Delhi plans revamp of fire service with more stations and manpower
Home Minister Ashish Sood announced a plan to strengthen fire prevention and emergency response through new equipment and mandatory sprinklers.
The Delhi Government has announced a plan to overhaul the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) by recruiting more personnel, building new fire stations, and procuring modern equipment, according to The Tribune on Tuesday.
Home Minister Ashish Sood shared the plan following a review meeting led by Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu at Lok Niwas. The measures aim to address challenges such as high population density, narrow lanes, and electrical overloading.
Under the proposal, the sanctioned strength of the fire service will increase based on a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) report. The recruitment of firemen and station officers will be fast-tracked through coordination with the UPSC and DSSSB.
The government intends to amend DFS Rules to permit trained private auditors to perform fire safety inspections. These auditors will be selected from those already empanelled with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
Existing buildings may soon be required to install fire alarms and sprinkler systems to match the standards of new constructions. The DFS will issue advisories to property owners regarding these mandatory safety measures.
To prevent electrical overloading, Sood, who also holds the Power portfolio, said power distribution companies BRPL, BYPL, and TPDDL will be directed to upgrade network capacity. The plan also includes fire safety awareness campaigns in schools, markets, and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs).