Mumbai, April 14: Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma inaugurated the ‘Fire Service Week’ at Lok Bhavan on Tuesday, coinciding with National Fire Service Day. During the event, he honored 12 officials and personnel with the prestigious ‘Presidential Fire Service Medal’ for their exceptional service.
Among those recognized were Chief Fire Officer Santosh Warik, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Anil Parab, and Harishchandra Raghu Shetty, along with Divisional Fire Officer Devendra Patil and other staff members.
Governor Varma emphasized that the challenges faced by fire services have significantly increased over the past few decades. Rapid urbanization, the expansion of high-rise buildings, underground and elevated metro networks, and the growth of industrial areas have made emergency situations more complex. Additionally, the rising number of large warehouses and data centers has altered the nature of fire-related incidents.
He noted that today, fire services are not limited to extinguishing fires but also play a crucial role in safeguarding critical infrastructure, industrial assets, and public spaces. Fires involving gas and chemicals, along with incidents related to electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries, have introduced new challenges. This necessitates the increased use of artificial intelligence for fire prevention, detection, and analysis.
The governor stressed the importance of continuous skill enhancement and training for fire personnel, announcing that the state will modernize fire services with a budget of ₹614 crores approved under the 15th Finance Commission. This initiative aims to strengthen safety measures in both urban and rural areas.
He also called for the establishment of dedicated institutions to promote research in fire science. Furthermore, he urged universities and educational institutions to engage in fire safety awareness, drills, and disaster management campaigns.
It is noteworthy that April 14 is observed as National Fire Service Day in memory of firefighters who lost their lives in the Bombay Dock explosion of 1944, marking the beginning of Fire Service Week.
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S.A.K./P.M.
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