New Delhi: In the wake of recent fire incidents, the Delhi government has ordered fire audits of sensitive establishments such as schools, colleges, hospitals, and night shelters, while also directing authorities to step up awareness campaigns and emergency preparedness measures across the city.
At a high-level review meeting chaired on Monday by Home Minister Ashish Sood, senior officials and divisional officers of the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) discussed fire preparedness, prevention strategies, and modernization plans for the department.
Sood directed the DFS to modernize firefighting equipment, improve emergency response time, upgrade internal communication and command systems, and prepare a comprehensive firefighting master plan for the next three, 15, and 25 years, keeping in mind Delhi’s growing population density and rapid urban expansion.
Officials reviewed bottlenecks in the existing fire prevention mechanism, availability of modern firefighting equipment, procurement of fire vehicles, and measures needed to strengthen emergency response capabilities. The meeting also focused on advanced technical training for fire personnel in line with evolving technologies.
“The Delhi government is continuously working towards modernizing the infrastructure and machinery of the fire department while giving top priority to the safety of Delhi residents,” Sood said. The minister asked divisional officers to work closely with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), market associations, religious committees, park clubs, and other social organizations to conduct awareness drives, mock drills, and public outreach programs on fire safety. Sood also directed officials to encourage residents to install modern fire safety systems.
The DFS has also been instructed to conduct regular fire safety reviews and audits at vulnerable locations.
