Fire Dept on high alert for wheat harvesting season in Karnal

With the onset of the wheat harvesting season and the rising temperature, the Fire and Emergency Services Department in Karnal has intensified its preparations to tackle potential fire incidents. Authorities have instructed employees not to take leave during the wheat harvesting season, except in cases of emergency.

Fire Station Officer Rajiv Bhardwaj claimed that the department had made all necessary arrangements to ensure swift response to any fire-related emergencies during the harvesting period. “We are fully prepared for the wheat harvesting season. Apart from the fire tenders stationed in Karnal city, additional fire tenders have been deployed at strategic locations, including Nissing, Nilokheri, Gharaunda, Assandh, Taroari, and Indri. Employees have been directed to take only emergency leave," said Bhardwaj.

To further strengthen their preparedness, the department has written to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Uttam Singh, requesting additional fire tenders to be stationed in areas that are currently not covered but are considered high-risk during the harvesting operations.

“We have requested the DC for locations where fire tenders can be stationed to save wheat crop,” said Bhardwaj

At present, the Fire Department has a total of 19 fire brigades across the district, including four stationed in NCR areas as per government guidelines. The department operates with a workforce of 158 contractual employees and 25 are permanent staff members.

In light of previous years' experiences, where fire outbreaks during wheat harvesting led to substantial crop loss, the department has issued strict directives to its employees to remain vigilant, responsive and on high alert throughout the harvesting season.

Bhardwaj also appealed to the farmers to take precautionary measures while operating harvesting machinery and to report any fire incident immediately to minimize the damage.

He emphasised that collective vigil by the fire services and the farming community was essential to ensure a safe and incident-free harvest this season.

Residents of Nigdhu area demand stationing of fire brigade

Meanwhile, residents of the Nigdhu sub-tehsil area, which cover over 30 villages, demanded the DC to station a fire brigade in Nigdhu as several incidents of fire were reported in the past. Suridner Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, Viney Arora and other locals said that Nigdhu was situated on the border of three districts-- Karnal, Kaithal and Kurukshetra -- and a large area was under wheat cultivation, so there was a need to station at least one fire brigade here. At present in fire incidents, fire tender comes from Nilokheri or Taraori, which takes time to reach here.