Editor Mr.Mayank Rawat ( Chief Editor Mr. Rohit Mishra )
New Delhi: The fire department has started preparations to deploy 100 firefighting vehicles near narrow lanes and in areas distant from fire stations in Delhi. This follows chief minister Rekha Gupta’s recent announcement regarding the deployment of compact vehicles throughout the city this summer. These vehicles will have the capacity to carry 500 litres of water and will also be equipped with various tools suitable for vehicle fires and accidents.
Officials said that the fire department was in the process of acquiring these vehicles, which were especially designed for narrow lanes. Each vehicle will be staffed by a five-member team, and a separate team will handle the calls and movements of these vehicles. These vehicles will not be as large as fire tenders but will be compact models that can quickly reach the site and perform initial firefighting, which will assist the firefighters who arrive later.
“The location of a separate control room, which will be exclusively for these 100 vehicles, is being decided. A staffer in the control room will send the nearest vehicle immediately to the scene,” an official said.
The primary goal of this initiative is to ensure that these smaller vehicles can reach the scene faster than traditional fire tenders. “For smaller fires, these vehicles are equipped to act immediately, extinguishing the flames and minimising damage before additional help arrives. Even in cases of larger fires, the compact vehicles will play a crucial role by conducting initial firefighting efforts,” the official added.
Each of these specialised vehicles will have an advanced mist-water technology, enabling more efficient use of water and faster suppression of fire.
These smaller firefighting units will be strategically placed in areas that are either far from fire stations or located in areas with narrow lanes where traditional fire tenders struggle to reach. “The initiative will improve response times, minimise damage in emergencies, and ensure the safety of both residents and firefighters,” the officer said.
Meanwhile, the fire department has also procured aerial water tower vehicles, 32-metre turntable ladders, mini firefighting robots and quick response vans. The aerial water tower vehicles are fully remote-controlled and equipped with thermal and optical cameras. These vehicles allow firefighters to douse high-risk blazes while maintaining a safe distance. The turntable ladders, capable of 360-degree rotation, can tackle fires in high rises. The mini-robots, made in India, can withstand up to 500°C and discharge 2,500 litres of water a minute.
The officer further claimed that a significant surge in fire incidents last year left the firefighting force overstretched. In 2024, DFS, with its strength of 2,900 personnel, responded to 20,795 fires, a 37% increase from the previous year. “We receive an average of 57 calls daily,” the officer said.
Mayank Rawat
