Mlore:Fire Department To Go Hi-Tech

Well-equipped fire dept to go hi-tech
Gururaj A Paniyadi TNN
Mangalore: The fire department, which is set for upgradation, is expecting an Advance Rescue Van (ARV) shortly. Six ARVs will be procured by the state fire and emergency services department. One of them will serve in Mangalore region. With several major industries coming up in the region, and a number of buildings mushrooming all over, the fire department has concentrated on improving its services. Speaking to ‘The Times of India’, fire and emergency services department deputy inspector general B Dayananda said ARV, a multi-purpose vehicle having various features, is expected to be here in a month’s time. According to chief fire officer D Rasheed, ARV comprises 148 different kinds of equipment needed to douze fire and handle other disasters. It will have instruments like hydraulic cutters, hydraulic spreaders, combo tools, in addition to fire tending machines. This apart, it will have advanced tools like thermal imaging camera and floodlights. It is generally difficult for firemen to spot people caught in fire and thick smoke. The thermal imaging camera will help firemen locate the people by focussing on them. Another common problem encountered during fire or other accident is the lack of light. ARV’s floodlight can be rotated 360 degrees. Another floodlight, a portable one connected to power source in the van, can be taken into the buildings. Hi-tech fire station Fire stations will also get a facelift. Within 15 days, the work on the new fire station will commence at Kuntikana. The work has been handed over to the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation. At present, the department has a temporary structure with three vehicles. The department plans to have a four-bay station with a capacity of eight vehicles. The station will be converted into a hi-tech station with two floors. The first floor will comprise pantry, gym, reading/ recreation room and a class room where the staff will be trained to impart awareness among the public. After the work on Kuntikana station is completed, the department will renovate Pandeshwar fire station. The Pandeshwar station, built during pre-Independence period, will have a new look at its new premises on the grounds. According to Rasheed, the old building will be razed to make way for grounds. The station will be built on the lines of the Kuntikana station. The department has already constructed a new station at Belthangady near Guruvainkere. The station at Karkala is also ready. The department is planning to upgrade the station at Puttur. There are proposals to have stations, one at Sullia and another on BC Road. Training programme Mangalore is likely to host a training programme for fire personnel for the first time in a few month’s time. The temporary training centre of the fire department is likely to be started at the headquarters of the department at Mangalore. Around 120 personnel will undergo training.

Mangalore: Five workers suffer burns

Date:16/03/2008

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/16/stories/2008031657930300.htm

Mangalore Five workers suffer burns
Staff Correspondent
MANGALORE: Five workers suffered burns in a fire accident at Tiki Tar Industries at the Karnad Industrial Area at Kolnad under Mulki police limits on Saturday. The fire reportedly occurred at the processing area of the unit around 9.45 a.m. The victims, Shreeshaila Sharan and Mohandas (welders), Mohammad Asif, Parashuram and Ravi (helpers), have been admitted to a private hospital in the city for treatment.
Doctors attending on the victims said they were out of danger. Prince P. Shah, general manager of the company, said a spark from the welding equipment fell on an oil drum which instantly burst into flames. The welders and the helper who were in the vicinity were scorched by the flames, he said.
“We will provide best of medical attention to the victims,” Mr. Shah said.
Lateesh, cousin of Shreeshaila, a victim, said: “Two senior managers of the company are camping in the hospital and interacting with hospital authorities.”
© Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu

Medal Investiture Ceremony For Home Guards and Fire Service Personnel

Date:16/03/2008 http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/16/stories/2008031654600600.htm

Thakur presents President’s Medal to 46 personnel
Staff Reporter
To do the honours: Governor Rameshwar Thakur with officers of Home Guards, Civil Defence and Fire and Emergence Services in Bangalore on Saturday.
BANGALORE: Governor Rameshwar Thakur on Saturday presented the President’s Medal to 46 personnel from Fire and Emergency Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence in recognition of their services on the occasion of Republic Day and Independence Day in 2006 and 2007.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said the award would inspire others to discharge their duties with dedication, commitment and understanding. He commended the role of the Home Guards, Civil Defence and Fire and Emergence Services personnel in ensuring law and order and during disasters. Jija Madhavan Hari Singh, Director-General of Police and Director Civil Defence, Fire and Emergency Services, said that her department was working towards establishing fire service stations in 66 taluks of the State.
The Home Guards and Civil Defence personnel who received the medal were B.K. Shivaprasad Rai, K. Bheemappa, K.V. Balaram, H.K. Mahadevappa, L.S. Prasad, S.A. Wahid, V. Purushottam, C.R. Paramashivaiah, P. Irudayanadan, A.B. Wajre, B. Mariswamy, A.P.M. Channabasaiah, K.F. Jayaraju, D.K. Kulkarni, A. Suresh, Rajendra Ranganathan, Mariraj Guttipet, M.N.Y. Heggade, A.N. Momin, Flight Lieutenant K.P. Nagesh, B. Shivakumar, Girija Shankara Shetty, K.S. Jaivittal, Suresh Dharwadkar, R.B. Dandinavar and Chikkavenkatappa
The Fire and Emergency Services personnel who received the medals were M.S. Mallikarjuna, M. Basavaraju, H.M. Shivanne Gowda, Marimadaiah, K. Pramod Kumar Heggade, Nagendra, P. Mohan, H.M. Puttawamy, Yelloji Rao, B. Shabbir Ahmed, Balakrishna, B. Abdul Salam, D. Balaram Singh, K. Manjunath Rao, H. Venkatappa, Chandrashekar, A. Ashwathappa, S. Mahalingaiah, H. Gopal Rao and Franklin Mark.
The adviser to the Governor, P.K.H. Tharakan; the Principal Secretary, Home Department, Vatsala Watsa; the Director-General of Police and Chairman of the Karnataka Police Housing Corporation, R. Srikumar; and the Bangalore Police Commissioner, Neelam Achuta Rao, participated in the function.
© Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu

Disaster Management Institute to come up in Maharashtra

Deccan Herald » National » Detailed Story

16th Mar 2008
Disaster Management Institute to come up in Maharashtra
New Delhi, PTI:
Police forces in the country will get a national-level disaster management institute in Maharashtra in a year to train its personnel on how to respond during natural and man-made disasters.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil will lay the foundation stone of the Disaster Management Training Institute in Latur in the state on March 23.
The institute, to be set up at a cost of around Rs 92.99 crore, is a brainchild of CRPF and will train police personnel, who are the first to respond during disasters.

CRPF will run the institute and train its over two lakh personnel, a senior CRPF official said.
The training facility will also be available to other paramilitary forces and police organisations including state forces, the official said, adding about 700 personnel will be trained at a time.
The institute, first of its kind in the country, will have three core facilities -- medical, flood rescue and relief and nuclear, biological and chemical disasters.
The first core facility is about medical responder and collapsed structure rescue which are two main modules and will deal with disaster situations.
The second will focus on flood rescue and relief operations. This will also train personnel for dealing with fire accidents and other mishaps like those involving planes and trains.
The third facility will be for training in nuclear, biological and chemical disaster management, the official added.

Tumkur Five die as lorry catches fire

Date:13/03/2008

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/13/stories/2008031360930500.htm
Karnataka - Tumkur Five die as lorry catches fire
Staff Correspondent
TUMKUR: Five persons died when the tanker by which they were travelling collided with another lorry and caught fire at Brahmasandra Gate, near Sira, in Tumkur district on Bangalore-Pune National Highway early on Wednesday.
Diesel from the tanker spilled out and the two vehicles were destroyed.
All those travelling by the tanker were burnt to death. The police removed five bodies from the accident site. The tanker belonged to Madhya Pradesh.
The identity of the victims was not known.
The police said the goods lorry was going to Bellary from Bangalore at the time of accident on the four-lane highway. The driver and cleaner of the lorry jumped to safety, the police said.
© Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu

Fire in Nandi Hills

Two Major Fires in Bengaluru City

Deccan Herald » City » Detailed Story
06th Mar 2008

Fire in garment factory
DH News Service, Bangalore:
Readymade dress materials worth several lakhs of rupee were gutted in a fire mishap at a garment factory in Electronic City Police limits on Wednesday night. However, no one was injured in the incident as the factory was closed when the mishap occurred. Electric short circuit is stated to be the reason. According to sources, one the security guards of Aravind Mills near Koodlu Gate saw smoke emanating from one of the godowns. He immediately alerted the factory officials. The fire spread to other godowns in no time and reduced the readymade dress materials to ashes.
Of the nine godowns, the materials, furniture and electronic goods in four of them were completely gutted.Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services pressed 15 fire tenders, one rescue van and more than 100 firemen to put out the fire. The fire fighting was on even at 1.15 am.

Another fire: In another fire accident, computers, furniture and other materials were gutted in an office on M M Road in the Cubbon Park police limits on Wednesday afternoon. However, the reason for the accident is yet to be ascertained. According to the police, the fire broke out at around 1.15 pm in the office of Stivant India Private Limited located on the third floor of Raheja Chambers. One of the air conditioners, had developed some problem which was repaired on Wednesday afternoon. Within half an hour after the AC was repaired, it is said to have triggered the fire mishap. The incident was immediately reported to Karnataka Fire & Emergency Service (KF & ES). Six fire brigade and one rescue van were pressed into service to put out the fire. The officials put off the fire around 4 pm, added the police.

Balloon Burst Leaves 20 Injured in Gulbarga

The Times of India
Balloon bursts, 20 injured

3 Mar 2008, 0129 hrs IST
GULBARGA: At least 20 persons were injured, five of them seriously, at the inaugural function of the Dharam Singh Foundation Cricket Trophy (DSF) match in Jewargi town, near here, on Sunday evening. To mark the inauguration of the match, former skipper of the Indian cricket team, Mohammad Azharuddin, released a nitrogen-filled balloon into the air. When some spectators struck the balloon, it burst into flames with a big bang. Five persons suffered serious burns. Hearing the sound of the blast, people ran helter-skelter and the police had to resort to a lathicharge. In the resulting stampede and the lathicharge, more than 10 persons were injured. Former CM Dharam Singh, former minister Qamarul Islam, MP Iqbal Ahmed Saradgi, Dharam Singh's son Ajay Singh, who is president of the Dharam Singh Foundation, and Mohammad Azharuddin were present on the dais when the incident occurred. The programme was cancelled subsequently. The seriously injured were brought to Gulbarga and admitted to the District Hospital for further treatment.

Major Fire in Tamil Colony in Mandya

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Busy Day For Fire Department

16 fires doused in 12 hours!
4th Mar 2008

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Bangalore: The fire department was kept busy on Monday. They had to attend to 16 fire incidents and 22 tenders battled it out to douse fires. While a fire in a grassland topped the list, a mini-lorry was charred in Malleswaram on Monday evening. There were no casualties. An accident at the Toyota Kirloskar Factory near Bidadi set fire to grass on the 400-acre campus. The department said it’s equipped to handle emergencies, adding it was surprised to receive 16 calls in 12 hours