Keep police stations free from dry grass: Fire dept

Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

Come summer, fire and emergency personnel in Bengaluru receive a minimum of 10 fire calls a day. The fire officials claim that they have no shortage of manpower and they are ready to attend the fire calls round the clock.

However, the recent fire accidents on the premises of two police stations have become a cause of concern for fire and emergency service personnel. They opine that sheer negligence of police station officers to keep the station premises free from dry waste or grass is the main cause for such incidents in which several vehicles were burnt.

Last month, more than 30 vehicles were burnt in fire mishaps at two police stations – KG Halli and Kengeri. The police suspect that someone may have thrown a cigarette/ beedi butt on the dry grass and the fire spread quickly thus damaging stationary vehicles at the police station premises.

“We have not only advised the police but also written letters to the police officers to keep the police station premises clean. We have advised the police officers to remove dry grass or weeds or dry waste from police station premises to avoid fire mishaps in future,” said Fire and Emergency Services Director K Shiva Kumar.

One can see heaps of dry waste around the seized or damaged vehicles parked at police stations. If the pathetic and nauseating scene at the premises of police stations is anything to go by, it seems police have forgotten the existence of seized vehicles at the police station premises.

It may be recalled that around 300 vehicles were gutted after a fire broke out at the parking area of Yelahanka Air Base where Aero India Show was held in February 2019. The fire officials said that a vast vacant area near where cars are parked contained a lot of dry grass and it would have ignited when someone threw a cigarette butt. Conventions or meetings convened by political parties, social or religious organizations have also become a cause of concern for the fire and emergency services de par tment. Many meetings would be held at Bengaluru Palace Ground or other areas during summer.

The organizers never bother to check whether the ground is free from dry grass or dry waste.

“We have also advised political parties, who approached us for permission, to ensure that there is no dry grass or waste on the ground where people gather,” said Shiva Kumar, adding that Fire and Emergency Services Department has been creating awareness by visiting garment factories and business establishments and has a plan to organize a fire safety week from April 14 to 20 to create awareness among the public.