Your morning cuppa could be an enlightenment of sorts if the fire service directorate's new initiative is anything to go by.
Very soon a constable manning the fire station in your area might knock at your door inviting you for a cup of tea with them and let out tips on fire safety measures.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the fire service directorate has decided to invite people over to morning tea and snacks.
"During the tea session, the fire personnel will give tips to residents on fire safety measures to prevent such incidents," director-general-cum-commandant-general of fire services P.N. Rai said.
The fire officers of all the six fire stations in the city have been directed to undertake the exercise at least twice a month. "When you ask someone to attend a meeting, they will simply ignore it. But when you invite them over tea and snacks, they will humbly accept the offer," Rai said.
The idea struck the 1982-batch IPS officer when a delegation of local businessmen called upon him soon after Rai assumed charge in May this year.
"I was shocked to learn that no officer ever visited them to provide tips on preventive measures to check incidents of fire," Rai said.
Elaborating, he said: "Preventive action is more important. So, I asked my men to identity the spots in the city where residents can be invited over tea, as some people may not like to visit the fire station. I am happy to know that the spots have been identified in some localities and the exercise will start shortly."
The officers have been asked to undertake the exercise ahead of the festive season. "The possibility of fire incidents during the festive season can't be ruled out. That's why the move is important," he added.
The delegation, which comprised the proprietor of an automobile showroom on Bypass Road, expressed its concern over lack of hydrants, which resulted in huge loss of property. Rai decided to review the situation at a meeting with the fire officers of Patna.
A fire hydrant is a connection point by which firefighters can tap into a water supply.
During the meeting, he said, the issue of fire hydrants came to the fore. "At the meeting, the officials told me that only three hydrants were in working condition in the town. As a result, the fire tenders have to search for water when an incident of fire is reported," Rai said.
Instructions were issued to identity the old hydrants. "In the first phase, we have so far identified over 60 hydrants, which will be used to refill fire tenders with water after incidents of fire are reported from the respective fire stations in the capital," Rai said.
Majority of these hydrants had earlier become defunct, causing problem for the fire tenders. Earlier, fire personnel had fallen victim of mob fury because of delay in reaching the spot after refilling the fire tenders with water from nearby hydrants.
He revealed most of the hydrants had disappeared, as they were not in use for long. "In addition, we have identified private buildings and hospitals, which can be used to refill fire tenders with water to deal with fire incidents in the area," Roy said.
