PANJIM: ‘Fire Safe Goa’ app for mobiles was launched on Tuesday by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on the occasion of the National Fire Service day. The app that can be downloaded from the department of fire and emergency services’ website enables anyone to connect to the fire and emergency control room and alert them of the fire accident.
More importantly this app also sends out a signal to the control room about the exact location of the fire accident, so that the full address and detailed route map of the fire accident spot is sent to the fire brigade station concerned.
The app developed by students of IIT Gandhinagar, is the first such initiative in the country making Goa the first State to have such a facility. The GPS tracking system software is also developed by the institute which will be installed in the 60-odd fire stations across the State. The app would also enable the fire services to get an update on the current traffic situation and take the least congested route to reach the fire accident site, said Rajagopalan Srinivasan, Professor IIT Gandhinagar.
“This app and GPS tracking software definitely not only improves the response time of fire brigades across Goa but also improves the quality of service and we will have exact locations of all fire tenders at headquarters at any given time,” Ashok Menon, director of Fire & Emergency Services, said.
National Fire Service Day was observed Tuesday, at Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services headquarters, St Inez, to pay homage to firemen martyrs. While addressing the gathering Parsekar said that financial assistance scheme up to Rs 20 lakh for the family of fire personnel who lose their lives or suffer disability in the line of duty has been notified by the government.
The chief minister also advised the fire personnel to be alert about the growing industrial and tourism sector. He also said that rampant, uncontrolled and temporary electricity connections on the beaches are also an area of concern to prevent any fire accident.
