An Exclusive Interview with Mr. P. S. Rahangdale
(Director – Maharashtra Fire Service & Chief Fire Officer – Mumbai Fire Brigade)
We Team “Fire & Safety” are Glad & Honoured to interact with him, here's his valuable views & experiences for “Fire Safe Society”
A. I have joined Mumbai Fire Brigade as Assistant Station officer in 1989 batch. The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has appointed me as head of the fire department in 2015. In the very first phase of appointment as CFO, due to loss of four senior officer including the then CFO S. H. Nesarikar, the department was in crisis situation. The daunted task of uplifting the image of MFB and the morale of the officers and men was the major challenge. I am also working for United Nation's Disaster Assessment & Coordination (UNDAC) for the various PEER programs globally. I have been awarded with the President's gallantry medal and various medals for extraordinary bravery. Presently I am also appointed as Director, Maharashtra Fire Services by Govt. of Maharashtra.
Q. Tell us about the importance of prompt fire Service in a country?
A. Fire services across global are emergency service providers. The services are directly responsible for reduction in loss of precious Life and property. The professional and prompt response of a Fire service is directly and indirectly related to the losses, continuity of livelihood and business. It shall also help in mitigation and continuation of business plans post disaster. The prompt fire service shall required to progress with same pace of development in terms of infrastructure, use of modern technology and scientific research in the field of Fire detection & suppression.
Q. What are the major changes that would be undertaken in the long term planning Phase?
A. Mumbai Fire Brigade has 34 Fire Stations to cover the 437 sq km area, but as per the various survey reports, the city needs 33 additional fire stations. The administration is planning 26 new fire stations across the city & suburb for minimum emergency response time. These and more would be a part of the long term planning of the Program on Enhancement of Emergency Response (PEER). Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) has undertaken a Program on Enhancement of Emergency Response (PEER) for analysis and implementation of various projects.
The important parameter to rate the efficiency of fire services is response strategy. The "Standing Fire Advisory Council" of Government of India recommends a response time of 15 to 20 minutes in urban areas. In Mumbai, the response time is 10 to15 minutes in the city and 15 to 20 minutes in the suburbs. It further depends on various factors such as traffic condition, location and time of emergency.
The response time of any fire service not only depends on number of fire stations but also on motivated well-trained force, upgraded communication, command and control, mitigation/prevention policies, modification of codes for life safety and use of modern technologies in terms of assessment and suppression.
MFB has strategically located 34 fire stations including six Regional Command Centres (RCC) at Byculla, Wadala, Vikhroli, Mankhurd, Marol and Borivali. Response time will further improve when transport projects easing traffic conditions in Mumbai are implemented under the PEER program. Scientific evaluation of manpower, infrastructure and resources has been made for improving response coverage for the city of Mumbai.
The PEER program will be implemented in two phases:
1. Immediate implementation
2. Long term planning.
Phase I- IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION
A. Infrastructure
Establishment of Mini Fire Stations :
The Mini Fire Station will be attached to Main Fire station and will be supplementary first response to any exigency. It will minimize the response time to reach the emergency site as compared to the response from main station. The Mini Fire Station will be located in the areas of the jurisdiction of Main Fire Station where dense population and narrow lane hampers Response Time. The Mini Fire Station will be equipped with Fire Motorcycles and Mini Fire Engine. In all, 17 Mini Fire Stations (BEAT FIRE STATIONS) are proposed in addition to the existing 34 Fire Stations and 6 RCC. These Mini Fire Stations will be placed in City (4), Western Suburbs (7) and Eastern Suburbs (6).
B. Capacity Building:
Manning of all the Fire Appliances with well- trained force is very important for the efficient and professional response. MFB is in the process of recruiting over 1,000 Fire personnel in addition to existing 2,700 firemen.
Also a massive drive for the promotion of Officer Cadre in upper and middle level management is in process.
For Capacity building of the force MFB is establishing state-of- the-art Training Centres which includes Advance Drill Tower, B.A. Gallery, Confine Space Search & Rescue Module, Entrapment Procedure, Computer modelling of Incident and Integrated Command & Control Procedure.
C) Communication:
i) Up-gradation of Wireless Network
The communication system plays a vital role in managing any exigency. At present the Brigade communication system works on Analogous System. Brigade is in the process of revamping communication system from Analogous to Digital Communication. The digital call protocol will enable Brigade personnel to broadcast message individually and in mass.
Further, to supplement the Digital Communication:
ii) Integrated Command & Communication system will be established in the Central Control Room. The salient features of the system are as follows:
Fully computerized system with GPS and Vehicle Tracking System (VTS)
Debriefing facility which can be narrated from the Telephone number, Time of incidents etc.
Audio & video recording facility.
Encrypted data of date time and calls
The Integrated Command & Control System unit will be set up at Byculla RCC, which will enable swift response and enhance the communication from Zero ground to Main Control Room and Sub Control Room at each RCC.
Phase II – LONG TERM PLANNING
Infrastructure
Mumbai Fire Brigade has 34 Fire Station to cover the 437 sq.km area, but as per the various survey reports the city needs 33 additional fire stations. The administration is planning 26 new fire stations across the city and suburbs for minimum emergency response.
Q. What materials you recommend for use to enhance fire safety?
A. There are certain materials which have an inherent fire retardant quality such as wood has more fire retardant quality than plastic. To increase that rating, there are certain treatments which are being given. We must use a fire resistant door that will keep you safe from the outside fire. The use of any material will ultimately depend upon the application, place as well as the process of application. Luckily, these days, there is the concept of minimalism in the interior design which is helpful to us. But use of any polyurethane foam, not adhering to safety and not conducting electrical audits regularly, non maintenance of fire installation etc, can endanger your life during fire.
Q. How do you ensure that a building is made fire resilient?
A. As per the regulations and the statutory guidelines of Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures, Act 2006 and Rules 2009 we are very strict in following norms. Our inspection team frequently visits the sites and checks the same and also does the follow up periodic inspection. At the time of inspection a complete checklist is maintained and followed accordingly. For example we check the maintenance and working condition of Fire Pumps operations, sprinkler systems, detection systems, and other parameters like their BMS system is appropriate or not, encroachments, additions or alternations in the building and the status of refuge area are checked. The main problem we are facing is non maintenance and non compliance. There is a belief in people that whatever happens to someone may not happen to themselves. Lack of awareness is the common for both High-rises & low-rise buildings.
The Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act 2006 has been implemented and the Inspection and bi-annual compliance and submission of FORM "B" has been made mandatory to all occupancies.
The Building Inspection software enables administration to manage the Database of all High Rise Buildings in Mumbai. The Software Base intimation for Fire Safety Inspection and Compliance is also monitored. Presently link on MCGM website is provided for uploading the six monthly compliance reports.
Q. In spite of having all the latest equipments, there are times when Fire fighters lose their lives saving people during fire fighting. What do you think would be the reason behind the same?
A. The fire fighters have to respond to emergency and when the life and property is in danger they have to enter into the affected area endangering their own lives, when all others are evacuating. The change of user of the occupancy, the traffic condition and delay in reaching the incident due to various factors put lots of pressure in decision making. Sometimes during the process of rescue operation and salvage, some unforeseen situation and an accidental change in the emergency condition, endangers the life of Fire fighter and sometimes results in fatality. Even though the fire-fighter has to take the calculated risk with professional judgment during the operations.
Q. What about citizen's participation and awareness?
A. We have started a VOLUNTEER FIREMAN programme for involving citizen in fire fighting and prevention. This is one of the major programme for fire safety and prevention. In the first phase Brigade has trained over 5,000 volunteers. The consolidated databases of these volunteers are readily available with the Central Control Room.
During the second Phase the selected volunteers will be enrolled in TOT (Training of Trainers) program and will be imparted advance training. This setup will be effectively implemented in co-operative housing societies and private firms.
Q. When will Mumbai become fire safe in the real sense?
A. The Mumbai city has a unique identity as one of the most populated and developing city. The response to any emergency in the city of Mumbai is always a challenge for the emergency response agencies like Mumbai Fire Brigade. The way forward to make Safe Mumbai will be with the modernization of MFB and the citizen interface. We are working on the same interface and in process of implementation of PEER for safe and smart MUMBAI.
