Safety checks: Fire department needs 59 officers

BANGALORE: To begin the inspection of fire safety norms in high-rise buildings, as per the notification issued by the Karnataka High Court of Karnataka, The Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services Department needs 59 officers across cadres.The Fire Department has written to the Government of Karnataka to nominate officers, so that they can begin the process of checking fire safety in high rises.The notification was issued in July after a PIL was filed by the Beyond Carlton group.With a ninemonth deadline, the department will have to conduct routine inspections, check for non-compliance of norms and impose penalties wherever necessary.“We are also waiting for a list of high-rise buildings in the city from BBMP and BDA,” said a senior official in the Fire Department.He also added that the department cannot impose penalties right away.“Many people are ignorant of the norms under the new notification.So, we will first have to inform them and help them incorporate them in their buildings,” he added.More fire stations in the cityThe city will get six more fire stations to add to the existing 14 stations.These stations will come up in Hulimavu, Whitefield, Sunkadkatte, Nagarbhavi, Jakkur and one near Vidhana Soudha.“The construction of these stations is time consuming with each station costing around Rs. 3 crore,” said an official from the fire department.Despite reports of a general lack of equipment, there has been no effort to procure more fire-fighting tools.There are only three ladders with the fire department to help fight any fire emergency.