KARACHI: Fire brigade to get helicopter, equipment
KARACHI, April 6: The City Naib Nazim, Nasreen Jalil, has said a helicopter, fire tenders and other machinery will be purchased for the fire brigade and civil defence at a cost of Rs150 million to help cope with any emergency situation and avoid possible damages.
Speaking to station officers and officials of all fire stations and members of the Fire Brigade and Civil Defence Committee, she said a PC-1 for the helicopter had been approved.
She said fire fighters were heroes who used their capabilities to save precious human lives.
The city government wants to reorganise the department on modern lines in view of its importance and utility, and its problems will be solved on priority while staff shortage will be overcome, she said.
The Chief Fire Officer, Syed Kazim Ali, said the department not only performed to put out accidental fires, but also worked in natural calamities like heavy rains, storms, earthquakes, etc.
He said a fire station and a rescue centre had been setup on the coast for safety of picnickers, adding that 46 trained lifeguards remained present every time. About 1,000 persons are helped every year, he said.
Mr Ali said there was a need for 200 fire stations for the existing population of the city while it had only 20 fire stations. He said on an average 15 to 20 fire incidents occurred daily.—APP
