State Fire department gets Cabinet nod to recruit 3,000 personnel in its team

Kolkata: The state Fire and Emergency department has got the nod of the state Cabinet to recruit as many as 3,000 people in the form of Fire Operator (FO) and Auxillary Fire Operators (AFO). 1,500 FOs and the same number of AFOs will be recruited in the department through proper procedure and the process is expected to be complete by June 2018.

Addressing a Bijaya Sammelani programme organised by the Employees Coordination Committee of the Fire department at its headquarter at Mirza Ghalib Street on Monday, Director General of Fire Services Jagmohan admitted that the shortage of manpower in the department has been an area of concern.

"The problem will be solved to a great extent as we are inducting as many as 3,000 firefighters to our fleet. We have also informed the department of Civil Defence to assist us in the recruitment process. The Fire department is also adding 90 additional tenders to its fleet. 36 of them have already reached us," he said.

The Fire department presently has a vacancy of 5,118. The total strength of the department stands at 9,153.

The Fire department has already procured as many as 50 support vehicles for firefighting. These vehicles similar to the model of a Bolero Camper will be beneficial in rapid carrying of fire equipment and also manpower to a fire site. "There has been instances particularly in cases of big fire incidents when we need replacement for firefighters. These vehicles will carry four to five people who will replace those who have become weary. Inducting fresh manpower will surely lead to more effective firefighting," a senior official of the Fire department said.

Meanwhile, the Coordination Committee donated Rs 25,000 to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund thorough state Power minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay who attended the programme.