Chalai merchants to get training in fire fighting

Thiruvananthapuram: The

fire

department will provide first aid fire fighting

training

to merchants from

Chalai

market to contain fire outbreaks in the initial stages itself and thereby reduce damages.

The decision in this regard was taken during a meeting of the merchants and the officers of Thiruvananthapuram fire station to discuss measures to improve safety of the Chalai market, which is highly prone to frequent fire outbreaks.

The meeting was organised by Thiruvananthapuram fire station officers Sajith S T and Nithin Raj under the direction of fire department director B Sandhya. According to the officers, the plan is to form groups of community rescue volunteers among merchants and provide them training in first aid fire fighting.

Thiruvananthapuram fire station officer Nithin Raj said that the fire department has already divided the Chalai market, which consists of several streets, into seven zones.

The plan is to form one group of community rescue volunteers in each zone with each group consisting of at least 20 members. First aid fire fighting involves extinguishing a fire in its initial stages by using whatever means is readily available.

The training involves basic awareness of different categories of fire based on its causes and using suitable methods accordingly to douse the flames.

During the meeting on Saturday, topics such as measures to be taken to prevent potential fire outbreaks, changes to be brought about in the buildings, scientific parking methods to facilitate smooth movement of fire fighting vehicles and setting up hydrants at strategic locations across the market were also discussed.

The merchants who attended the meeting stressed the need to implement the government decision to set up a fire station at Chalai without any further delay.