Mumbai to get high-tech equipment from Israel to fight fires

In one of the most outstanding technological advancement, the Mumbai fire department will rope in a three-tier surveillance system to make the city fire proof.

High resolution telescopic cameras will be installed at all fire stations. These cameras will keep round-the-clock vigil on areas falling under the jurisdiction of these stations and the response time of the fire engines. Wireless cameras will also be stationed at control post vans and on the breathing apparatus of the firemen dousing the blaze.

The technology and the expertise are being procured from, one of the global leaders in fire safety technology, Israel. The team of experts from the Israeli company will soon visit the city for inspection and training the staff for the modern equipment.

“The advance system will help us monitor the situation and keep a tab on the incident right at the headquarters. This will help us tackle the mishap better. We will accordingly send reinforcements of fire officials,” said chief fire officer Uday Tatkare.

Under the technology, real-time images will be viewed on a video wall. Fire officials added that during the mishap the details, right up to the latitudinal and longitudinal, will be displayed on the screen at the fire headquarters in Byculla. Besides, the screen will be able to display more than one spot or entry of the fire location simultaneously.

The cameras on the control post vans will help the department depute additional fire officers varying upon the fire’s intensity. Cameras on fire officials’ breathing apparatus will help minimise the risk to their lives. “Officials at the headquarters will be monitoring the situation on the screen. Instructions will be given to them on how to proceed and how to tackle the blaze for their safety,” Tatkare explained.

Meanwhile, data released from the fire department showed that in last six months alone, 1,237 fires have singed the city. Majority of these have taken place post midnight.

The project has been sanctioned in the budget for the new financial year and the technology will be operational once the funds are sanctioned  A single tier of surveillance system is expected to cost Rs20 crore, fire officials said.