Fire stations in distress

KOCHI: It is a perilous path ahead for the people as the Fire and Rescue Services Department in the state may not come to the rescue of the people in emergency situations. In the wake of rising extremism and bomb threats, the inadequate infrastructure in the fire stations may prove costly for the state. Most of the fire stations in the state are running without adequate number of fire engines and manpower. The 31 chassis at the Thrikkakara Fire Station have been rusting in the open for the past several months. If body fabrication of these chassis is done, it could be a big relief to many fire stations which lack adequate number of vehicles. The authorities are passing the buck saying that they are awaiting administrative sanction from the higher authorities. Above all, inadequate manpower has landed many of the fire stations in deep trouble. There are stations which do not even have a station officer. “The station officer here was transferred four months ago and till date no steps have been taken to post a station officer,” said sources with the Tripunithura fire station. The Thrikkakara fire station is also functioning without a station officer. Four other fire stations in the state- Kanjikode, Perinthalmanna, Nedumangadu and Idukki are also suffering owing to inadequate infrastructure and manpower. As the staff are deployed from other fire stations, the personnel have to juggle between their assigned fire station and parent station. It puts tremendous burden on them.  With insufficient number of men, the crisis management is always at stake.