Narrow lanes, water re-filling main issues faced during ops: Atul Garg

In a freewheeling chat with DNA's Sakshi Chand, Chief fire officer Atul Garg talks about the various issues facing the fire department.

What are the main problems faced by fire officials in case of a fire in the Capital?

As soon as a call is received, fire tenders are set out, but there are times when a fire takes place in an unregulated area. Firefighters find it difficult to reach the main site and in some places, it is impossible for us to reach as the lanes are narrow. In such a scenario, we have to lay down the hose pipe and drag it to the main site, which takes time as the process is repeated when the fire tender goes back to refill water. That is another issue, the amount of water a mall or any other place can give is much less compared to that of a house.

Why do more fires occur in summers than winters? Also, how many calls do you receive in a day on an average?

The fire department receives 140 calls per day, of which 25-30 calls are regarding the fire in garbage and jungles. One of the reasons for more fire calls during summers is the rising temperature. The temperature is high and hence it takes a second to catch fire, which can then spread.

Given the population of the Capital, do you have adequate number of people working in the department?

Yes, the sanctioned strength and the current strength have a variation, but we do not let the shortage of staff come in between our work. Some people had to be recruited, however, that is pending in the court and the case is ongoing. We would soon have more people in the department.