122 yrs later, city firemen give birth to training manual

Updated on: 22 October,2009 07:13 AM IST |
Somita Pal |

The tragedy that claimed the lives of six firemen in Thane on Sunday has turned out to be an eye-opener for the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB).

The tragedy that claimed the lives of six firemen in Thane on Sunday has turned out to be an eye-opener for the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB). During a meeting at the BMC office on Tuesday, the MFB decided to prepare a manual on standard operating procedures in case of an emergency. Ironically, there has been no such manual in the 122 years of the MFB's existence.

Focus on training

"Despite the standard operating procedures that are part of the training drills conducted at fire stations across Mumbai, we don't have a manual to refer to. So, we have decided to design a manual that will include past experiences of firemen during emergencies, the hurdles they experienced and other such details.

However, Prakash Devdas, general secretary, Mumbai Mahanagarpalika Karyalayeen Karmachari Mahasangh, a union representing firemen in the MFB, said, "We have found that the MFB is appointing drivers and pump operators as fire supervisors. They lack experience.

This may cost the lives of firemen and Mumbaikars in the future. We have brought up the matter with the BMC commissioner and have demanded that only those with a five-year experience should be appointed as supervisors."

THE INCIDENT
Six firemen from the Wagle Estate fire depot died of asphyxiation on Sunday after they took a lift to douse the fire on the 14th floor of Punarvasu Building in Tarangan Complex in Thane. Sources say, nobody was aware that the firemen had taken the lift, and someone switched off the power.

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