States » EastPosted at: Oct 8 2026 12:28AM


Fire service to strengthen emergency response : Director Manipur Fire Service

Imphal, Oct 7 (UNI) The Manipur Fire Service Department is strengthening its infrastructure, manpower and emergency response capabilities, Director Laishram Nabachandra announced at a media conference here at the DIPR auditorium on Wednesday.
He stated that the proposal of seven new Fire Stations at Porompat, Lilong, Yairipok, Saikul, Litan, Khumbong and Heirok are under process and are expected to become functional.
The Department has also proposed 26 fire stations across the State to improve coverage and reduce response time. At present, it has 22 operational Fire Stations/Sub-Stations, including one Fire Station-cum-Headquarters at Imphal and 21 Sub-Stations. Five Sub-Stations have been opened in recent years at Nambol, Tadubi, Lamlai, Sekmai and Noney.
The Director said expansion of the fire station network has become necessary due to rapid urbanisation, population growth and increasing fire and disaster risks. Narrow roads, congested areas and lack of easily accessible water sources in some locations often create difficulties for fire tenders to reach incident sites and carry out firefighting operations.
On manpower, the Director said the Department has a sanctioned strength of 534 posts, of which 400 personnel are currently in position, while 134 posts remain vacant. Among those in position are 118 newly recruited personnel who are undergoing Basic Fire and Rescue Training at the Odisha Fire & Disaster Response Academy, Bhubaneswar.
The Director said the Fire Service, established on April 11, 1957, with just 27 personnel and two fire tenders, has significantly expanded over the decades. It was separated from the Police Department on May 1, 1991, and became an independent Directorate under the State Home Department.
The Director said the State Fire and Emergency Services has been designated as a first responder to disasters under Sections 44 and 45 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. This has further increased the need for modern equipment, trained personnel and better emergency coordination.
According to him,the Department has now evolved beyond its traditional role of firefighting into a multi-hazard emergency response force. Its responsibilities include firefighting, rescue operations, disaster response, search and rescue, emergency response, fire prevention and public awareness
On firefighting capability, the Director said the Department currently has 103 working fire tenders and other firefighting vehicles and equipment. High-capacity vehicles, including those with around 12,000-litre water capacity, are available for major fire incidents.
He further highlighted the use of quick-response vehicles, including the Yodha vehicle with a capacity of around 1,000 litres, which can be particularly useful in congested areas and locations where large fire tenders face difficulty in reaching the incident site.
The Department is adopting newer technologies to improve emergency response. A proposal has been submitted to the Central Government for procurement of drones, which could be used for emergency assessment, surveillance and operations in difficult-to-reach areas. The Department is hopeful of acquiring the drones in the new financial year, he added.
He also informed that GPS systems are being set up at important locations, including the airport and some hospitals, with efforts to establish direct communication links with police stations. Such systems, he said, would help improve coordination and facilitate faster deployment of emergency services.
The Director also stressed the importance of specialised firefighting equipment, including hydraulic platform-cum-telescopic systems, particularly for rescue and firefighting operations in high-rise buildings. Adding on, the department is strengthening its capacity to deal with different types of emergencies.
Turning to fire prevention, the Director said prevention and preparedness should not be left to the Fire Service alone. He called for greater responsibility from municipalities, building owners, institutions and the general public.
He particularly urged municipalities and concerned authorities to provide proper fire safety information and requirements to building owners and developers before and during construction. Incorporating fire safety measures at the construction stage, he said, can prevent major problems later.
The Director stressed that hospitals and universities must maintain proper fire safety infrastructure, with hospitals requiring special attention due to patients’ limited ability to evacuate. He urged institutions to update safety systems, maintain adequate equipment and conduct regular mock drills.
The Department, he said, has been conducting inspection drives at schools, colleges, hospitals, hotels and other establishments to check fire safety equipment and arrangements.
The Director said the Fire Audit and Fire Prevention Wing regularly conducts fire audits and inspections of government and private buildings. Fire Safety Certificates and NOCs are issued after inspection in accordance with the relevant provisions of the National Building Code of India, Part IV – Fire and Life Safety.
Regular mock drills are particularly important for institutions with large numbers of people, as they help identify weaknesses in evacuation procedures and ensure that staff know how to respond during an emergency, he added
During the financial year 2025-26, the Fire Service responded to 397 fire calls and 45 emergency calls, the Director said. Property estimated at approximately Rs. 81.34 crore was saved through timely intervention.
He also stressed the need for strengthening the system of third-party fire safety assessment in the State. At present, five agencies are available, and proper criteria and categorisation are needed to ensure quality, accountability and uniformity in fire safety assessments.
He added that Fire Safety Certificates/NOCs can also be obtained online through the State’s Ease of Doing Business portal. The Director stressed the importance of public awareness and urged households to keep fire extinguishers and learn their proper use for early intervention.
Fire Service personnel are regularly deputed to the National Fire Service College, Nagpur, for professional courses. Short-term training and refresher programmes are also conducted to improve the skills and preparedness of personnel as well as employees of government and private organisations.
He informed that around 63,000 people have so far been covered through awareness programmes, mock drills and training conducted in schools, colleges, hospitals, hotels, industries, government and private institutions, NCC/NSS units and local clubs, focusing on prevention, preparedness and safe evacuation.
The Director acknowledged that the Department continues to face challenges due to manpower shortages, increasing urbanisation, congested roads and limited access to water in certain areas. He said these challenges make expansion of stations, deployment of quick-response vehicles and adoption of modern technology particularly important.
He said the Department would continue to seek State and Central Government support for additional manpower, specialised equipment, drones, vehicles and other resources to strengthen emergency response, while stressing that prevention, public awareness and early action by citizens remain the first line of defence against fire emergencies.
Nabachandra reiterated that fire safety is a shared responsibility involving the Fire Service, municipalities, building owners, hospitals, educational institutions, industries and citizens. He appealed to the public to remain alert, follow basic fire safety practices, keep fire extinguishers at home and participate in awareness programmes and mock drills.
For emergencies, the public can contact 112, while 101 is available for fire emergencies. The Fire Service Department can also be contacted at 8415925200.
UNI NS CDS
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