Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 20: Fire Services Week, which was observed with the aim to make the public aware about fire hazards as well as fire prevention and protection, concluded today.
During the week, Fire and Emergency Services Department conducted public meetings, seminars in the educational institutions, industrial areas and petrol pumps etc to create awareness among the people.
On the penultimate day of the week, inter-school speech competition was held at Fire and Emergency Services Headquarters at Gandhi Nagar on the theme “smoke management saves lives”. The cash prizes and trophies were distributed by Dr G A Bhat, Director General, Fire and Emergency Services and R S Sodhi, Director, to the toppers.
Consolation prizes were also distributed among the participants while as teachers of the schools were awarded with cash reward of Rs 500 each.
On the concluding day, different lectures and demonstrations were held to make the general public aware about the fire hazards as well as fire prevention and protection. The special event was display of disaster management tools, which have been procured by the department recently to safeguard the lives and property of general masses.
The demonstrations, mock exercises and displaying of tools were held under the supervision of C K Peshin, Assistant Director, Fire and Emergency Services, Command Jammu.
At Udhampur, the concluding function was presided over by R C Raina, Assistant Director, Fire and Emergency Services, Command Udhampur/Reasi.
Speaking on the occasion, he exhorted upon the personnel of the organization to exhibit high degree of professionalism while safe guarding the lives and property of the public.
During the week, the command organized various awareness programmes at various locations in Udhampur and Reasi districts besides a professional exercise at Air Force Station in collaboration with IAF and 1 FOD on the directions of Dr G A Bhat, DG and Director, R S Sodhi.
At Srinagar, the week concluded with a commemoration parade at Fire and Emergency Services Headquarters. On the occasion, jawans were told to prepare themselves to face challenges being faced by the department due to ever increasing fire risks because of massive urbanization.