More muscle power for State Fire Service
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 23 2011: To add more muscle to the State Fire Service, 18 Advanced Water Tenders, two Foam Tenders and nine Rapid Response Vehicles (Water Mist Technology) have been added to the existing fire fighting equipments while plans are on to dig multi-purpose ponds near the Fire Service Stations spread out across the nine districts of the State.

The new fire fighting equipments and machineries were procured under funds from the Special Planning Assistance as well as with funds from the Union Home Ministry.

Chief Minister O Ibobi informed this during the flag off ceremony of Advanced Water Tenders and Rapid Response Vehicles held at the headquarters of the State Fire Service at Imphal today.

Stressing on the need to put affective fire fighting units in the hill districts and sub-divisions, the Chief Minister said that priorities ought to be given to these far flung places when allotting the newly acquired machineries.

Additional man power will be inducted to suit the induction of the new vehicles before the next Assembly election, said the Chief Minister and added that a new building for the fire Service Headquarters will be also be built.

The Manipur Development Society has also been instructed to construct multi-purpose ponds near Fire Stations and Sub-stations in the hill districts, said the Chief Minister further.

The Chief Minister also flagged off the newly acquired Advanced Water Tenders and Rapid Response Vehicles headed for the fire stations and sub-stations at Thoubal, Sugnu, Kakching, Chandel, Moreh, Mayang Imphal, Bishnupur, Moirang, Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Kangpokpi, Senapati, Tamenglong and Jiribam.

Incidentally this was the first time that a Chief Minister had addressed a function at the premise of the State Fire Service.

Delivering the welcome address, Director of Fire Service, L Noren said that the addition of the new fire fighting vehicles and equipments will go a long way in addressing the problems faced by the State Fire Service across the nine districts.

Stating that the Rapid Response Vehicle is manufactured in Germany and is the latest international model, Noren said that its fire fighting capabilities are ten fold greater and more effective than the previously used vehicles.

Since Manipur falls on the five seismic zones identified across the world, there is the need to upgrade the vehicles as well as strengthen the man power to face any eventuality in case of any disaster, said Noren.

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