Patna, Jan. 23: School students in the state would soon be well equipped to fight fire.

If the plans of the fire department are anything to go by, students across the state will soon be given training about what to do in case a fire breaks out in their schools.

The initiate will start later this year. But in February, fire officers of all the districts would take part in a workshop.

State fire officer Ramesh Chandra told The Telegraph that the initial planning for the project had already started. The details of the project would be decided soon.

“We are planning training sessions for teachers and students in many schools of the state. They will be provided basic information about how to fight and prevent fires,” said Chandra.

Chandra added: “The students will be given a very basic course. They will be told about how to prevent fires and about what to do in case a fire breaks out.”

The fire officers would be trained about the programme first, before they teach the students. The workshop in February will be a training module for the firemen.

“The fire officers need to be trained first about what they will teach the students. A workshop has been organised in February for this. A training module has been prepared for the workshop. Once the fire officers are properly trained, they can start the programmes in their respective districts,” said Chandra.

The exact date for starting the programme in various schools has not yet been decided.

On January 16, the students of Devipad Chaudhary Shahid Smarak High, Patna took part in a similar fire drill, organised on the school premises. The students were taught about how to fight fire. Mock drills and rescue missions were also conducted.

The firemen also demonstrated operations like rescuing people from smoke chambers, using fireman lift, crawling rescue and others.

An official source said this would enable the schoolchildren to know and learn basics that are very important for disaster management.

The source also said different schools were being advised to take all precautions to prevent fires. They are also being directed to be ready to handle any disastrous situations.

“School authorities are being told about fire hazards. They are told to be careful about the safety of children. They are also being warned about the potential threat from electric wires and combustible substances,” said the source.

The source added: “The basic training programme for students and teachers would be part of the overall fire-safety measures.”

Prevent and cure

•       School students and teachers to be trained to fight fire
•      Basic precautionary measures like fire prevention and rescue
•      School authorities to be told about fire hazards
•      Fire officers of various districts to be trained in a workshop in February
•      Officers will be responsible for the drills in their districts