Women to enter Puducherry fire force through Kerala

Thrissur: The route for women's entry into the fire force in Puducherry appears to be through Kerala. The first batch of women firefighters to be inducted in the Puducherry fire force have completed their elaborate training at Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Academy in Thrissur. The passing out parade and oath taking ceremony of this all-woman fire force platoon will be held at the academy on Friday. During their six-month stay at the academy, the 16 members of the platoon were given training in diverse areas of expertise required for the fire force personnel. Puducherry fire force has a strength of about 500, and this is their first all-woman platoon. "We were recruited in June last year and we could receive only some basic training there. We came here in Nov, and apart from physical training we were also given practical lessons in mobile fire tender unit operations to control fire. There was also training on mountain rescue operations and rescuing people who are trapped underwater. We were also equipped to carry out rescue operations in chemical disasters using breathing apparatus as part of the training. Basic life support lessons were also part of the training. There were also theory classes," said S Vidyasree, one of the trainees. She disclosed that women instructors were not available in the Puducherry fire force. "Here we were given training by both male and female instructors,'' Vidyasree said. Academy director M G Rajesh said the facilities at the institution are of national level quality and the training of the women recruits demonstrate that it is possible to host training for personnel from other states here. He said the syllabus for the training at the academy is designed to equip trainees to handle complex rescue operations. Rajesh added that there are about 4,000 members in the state fire force, out of which 78 are women. Some of these women personnel function as instructors. Assistant divisional fire officer of Puducherry R Ritosh Chandra will administer the oath of office to the firewomen recruits at the passing out parade where the director (administration) of Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Arun Alphonse will be the chief guest.