Chief secretary Bijay Kumar Pattnaik takes a look at fire fighting equipment displayed on the occasion of Fire Safety Week in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, April 14: Rules under the Fire Service Act, 1993, are likely to be framed soon as the Odisha government is reviewing a proposal of the fire-fighting wing of the home department in this regard.

These rules would specify fire safety norms and empower fire authorities to act against violators. Though the Fire Service Act came into existence 19 years ago, rules under the act are yet to be framed.

Taking part in the inaugural ceremony of the 68th Fire Service Day and the Fire Safety Week at the Fire Training Institute in Baramunda today, chief secretary Bijay Kumar Pattnaik hoped that rules under the act would be framed soon.

The rules will lay down details with regard to maintenance, superintendence and control of fire services apart from explaining the powers and functions of the fire service officials. It would also lay down norms for fire safety and stipulate the penalty for violations. Sources said that though the Fire Service Act had been passed long ago, lack of interest and initiatives had delayed the framing of the rules. “A set of rules has been sent to the Odisha government in the last two years. The government may frame it after reviewing properly,” said a fire officer.

The Odisha fire service wing of the state government is being provided with 10 more ambulances equipped with modern medical facilities. These ambulances would be at the disposal of fire service stations located close to national highways and other sensitive areas.

Director general of police, fire brigade, Binod Behera said the government had planned to set up fire service stations in every block in Odisha. “At present, Odisha has 180 fire stations. But the number would soon reach 255 by the end of the current fiscal. Eighty more such stations will come up in the next phase,” said Behera. At present, there are some 3,500 fire brigade personnel working in Odisha. Behera said fire service was currently undergoing equipment modernisation.

Firemen performed mock rescue drills to mark the inauguration of the Fire Safety Week. Among other things they demonstrated how to douse raging fires in multi-storey buildings and rescue people in such situations. They also demonstrated modern fire-fighting techniques. Advanced and sophisticated fire fighting equipment were also exhibited.