THRISSUR: Fire and rescue service station in the city lacks enough staff and basic facilities to meet emergencies.
Firemen say the station, which attends to a large number of calls a day, has no computers or internet connectivity though it has eight panchayats and the city corporation under it.
Extra duties like high rise building inspections are namesake. Not more than two or three inspections were reported so far.
There are one station officer, three assistant station officers and five leading firemen, 11 drivers and 15 firemen here while the required strength of drivers is 14 and firemen 41. It is learnt that 20 men are being trained at the Fire and Rescue Academy and many are believed to get posted here.
“It has been a growing trend here that when more recruits are from Thiruvananthapuram division and once they get posted here in Palakkad division, including Thrissur, they somehow try for an immediate transfer and pack off. This is the sole reason for the staff crunch,” said a leading fireman.
The neglect could take a toll on them. Their helmets are 10 years old. Recently, amidst a rescue operation, a roof of gutted room collapsed on a leading fireman’s head almost breaking the helmet.
Also, when the station had been provided with two hydraulic units four years ago, one was recently shifted to another station in the district.
The only relief is the recent supply of new pair of gumboots. When other forces are being provided with hi-tech facilities, fire stations are always overlooked.
