Fire and Rescue Service feel the heat due to depleting groundwater levels

With fire accidents in slum areas routinely reported during summer months, due to the heat and dry winds, the Fire and Rescue Service department will have a tough time managing the ever-declining amount of water to fight the increasing cases of fires. As the main supplier for fire tenders, the Metro Water department is already feeling the pinch. But according to officials, the situation will worsen in the coming months. 

A normal size fire tender carries more than 7,570 litres of water and a metro water tanker carries 12,000 litres. Under normal circumstances, one fire tender would be enough to douse he blaze in case of a minor fire accident. 

“However, during summer months, even the minor fires can pose become a challenge due to the increased atmospheric temperature and dry winds. So, more water is needed to control a fire during summer than other seasons. We have already started feeling the pinch as water availability has come down drastically,” a senior fire and rescue service personnel told DTNext.

 Metro Water continues to be the main supplier of water for the Fire and Rescue Service department. In addition to this, about two fire stations inside the city have sunk borewells to fill up their fire tenders. 

More stations are planning to sink bore-wells. “We also explore private water resources in the area when we have shortage of water. So far we have been managing with the Metro water supply alone,” the official added. The co-ordination between the Fire and Rescue Service and Metro Water departments has so far been excellent. 

All local metro water pumping stations have a standing instruction to prioritise request from the fire department. However, when Fire and Rescue Service department takes water from Metro Water, it takes a toll on the drinking water supply to other areas. 

“Already most of our lakes have dried up and the Metro Water department is also finding It difficult to get water. We are on a precarious situation where water availability is going to be very limited. So, the public could take all steps to prevent fire accidents,” the official added.