Shimla, Nov 6 (PTI) The Himachal Pradesh Fire Department has cancelled leave for all personnel and switched to a two-shift duty system from the usual three to ensure adequate manpower during Diwali, Chief Fire Officer Sanjeev Kumar said on Friday.
The department has kept all its firefighting vehicles in operational condition and conducted thorough inspections of fire stations across the state to ensure preparedness for any fire-related emergency during the festival, Kumar said.
"There are a total of 304 firefighting vehicles, ranging from small to large, available across the state. In view of Diwali, all our firefighting vehicles are fully operational. We have conducted thorough inspections of all fire stations. While duties are typically organised into three shifts, for Diwali we have shifted to a two-shift system to ensure greater manpower availability," he said.
Leave for all fire department personnel has been cancelled for the Diwali period, with exceptions allowed only in critical circumstances, such as a wedding in the family or an unforeseen emergency, he added.
Kumar said public awareness regarding fire safety had increased significantly over the past eight to 10 years, with people now generally bursting firecrackers only during designated time slots, leading to a notable decline in fire incidents.
However, the department remains fully prepared to respond to any emergency, he said.
The state currently has 88 firefighting units established across various districts, Kumar said.
The department has a total of 1,345 sanctioned posts across different categories, and the process to fill some of the vacancies is currently underway, he added.
