Team Herald
PANJIM: The Fire Fighters, who too faced a challenging 2020 year in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic and Cyclone Nisarga effects, has saved close to Rs 25 crore property from damages during various rescue operations all through the year. The personnel of the Fire and Emergency Services were amongst the other frontline warriors in the State for effectively handling the pandemic situation as they also carried out their routine missions.
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An annual data shared by the department states that in the line of duty, they handled various fire and emergency cases which included serious chemical gas leakages, liquefied gas leakages, electrical fires, flood rescue, animal rescue, chemical spillage, road accidents, dry grass fires and urban fires. During the bygone 2020, the Directorate has collectively attended 2,317 fire calls and 3,839 emergency calls wherein 96 human lives and 585 animal lives were saved whereas property worth Rs 24.45 crore was saved/salvaged due to the timely action of the fire personnel.
When Cyclone Nisarga made landfall in northern Maharashtra on June 1, 2020 till June 5, 2020 leaving a trail of destruction in faraway Goa, the fire fighters across the State worked tirelessly to ensure that citizens get the required help in such eventuality. During the cyclonic storm the department had attended 201 emergency calls wherein the property of Rs 34.06 lakh and 13 animal lives were saved.
Apart from this, the Directorate undertook sanitisation drive across the State in view of COVID-19. The 15 fire stations sanitised the public places prioritised by the respective municipality or village panchayat and recommended by the Directorate of Municipal Administration or the Directorate of Village Panchayats. So far 3,864 places have been sanitised by the fire personnel.
As on date, 75 fire personnel had been infected with the COVID-19 but also cured and all have resumed for duties. The report also states that Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant felicitated 97 fire personnel with Commendation Certificate for their meritorious and dedicated work on Goa Statehood Day, May 30, 2020.
On the occasion of 60th Goa Liberation Day, December 19, 2020, three fire personnel — Ashok Parab, Sub-Officer; Deepak Shetgaonkar, Leading Fire Fighter and Sitaram Kamat, Watch Room Operator were awarded Goa Chief Minister Fire Service Medal for Meritorious Service.
