Mumbai: Fire-fighters to get a Rs 8-crore 'lifeline'

The fire brigade had lost one of its firefighters in the 2014 blaze at Lotus Business Park due to poor connectivity File picIn 2014 Nitin Ivlekar a fireman suffocated to death after losing communication with his team when he was trapped on the 21st floor of the Lotus Business Park in Andheri during a massive fire After the incident firefighters had blamed poor connectivity inside the 22storey building that led to the isolation of Ivlekar The fire brigade has since decided to change its 56yearold analogue communication system with a digital oneTo minimise the loss mdash of property and humans mdash and increase the efficiency of firefighters it has decided to bring in a Digital Mobile Radio DMR system into place which is also used in France and GermanyConfirming the development Chief Fire Officer PS Rahangdale said We are trying to upgrade the system by introducing the hightech and advanced DMR system Communication is the backbone of fire fighting and rescue operations Soon fire brigade will get a new command and control post which can track fire fighting vehiclesOutdated systemThe countrys oldest fire brigade is currently using the outdated analogue walkietalkie communication system that often affects fire dousing and rescue operations In 2014 after Ivlekars death questions were raised about the outdated communication system which is a failure in high rises However firefighters can now breathe a sigh of relief once the DMR comes in as it will help tackle the major problem of poor connectivity in highrise buildingsThe new walkietalkieThe Rs 8 crore project will also give firemen a free hand during fire fighting operations since they need not carry walkietalkies as they will instead be equipped with microphone and speaker which will be connected to a walkietalkie attached to their fire fighting suit or personal protective equipmentsSignal obstructedAccording to fire brigade officials the abrupt increase in highrise buildings across the city is of serious concern for firefighters since construction materials often end up obstructing signals Officials blame materials like heavy steel concrete and glass faccedilade for failed communication system as the signal weakens after a point in the existing systemThe reasonExplaining the purpose of the DMR system Mahesh Upasani assistant station officer of wireless department of Mumbai fire brigade said The safety of firemen and citizens trapped in a fire depends on reliable and functional communication tools that work in the harshest and most hostile environments Firefighters always work in adverse conditions thick smog and intense heat that are markedly different from those of any other wireless radio usersThe radio is a lifeline for firefighters connecting them to the command post and outside assistance in the most desperate situations To operate safely in these dynamic environments it is imperative that firefighters have the ability to immediately communicate information accuratelyMore coverageSince the new system will increase the coverage area fire brigade officials are confident of covering areas like Colaba Cuffe Parade BandraKurla Complex Marve and parts of Andheri that currently receive very poor signals The proposal of purchasing the equipments required for DMR is ready and will soon be tabled before the BMCs Standing Committee for approval Once the committee gives it a goahead the brigade will start purchasing the equipment