Bhubaneswar: Odisha fire and emergency service issued a directive on Friday making it mandatory for all firefighters to wear newly acquired fire proximity suits starting March 1. Until now, personnel were carrying out firefighting operations by wearing regular uniforms, jeopardising their safety.
The govt has purchased around 5,200 specialised protective suits to protect the personnel while dousing fires. According to DG (fire service) Sudhanshu Sarangi, a standard operating procedure (SOP) has been circulated to all fire stations to strictly follow the order. Non-compliance would result in disciplinary proceedings.
“Each staff member will receive one suit, which they can retain and transport during transfers until their retirement. The complete protective gear comprises six components: jacket, trousers, shoes, gloves, helmet and hood. The distribution responsibility lies with the fire officers in charge,” Sarangi told TOI.
The SOP read, “Previously, firefighters operated in standard uniforms while tackling blazes. Their shoes lacked fire resistance, and they often worked without proper head protection.”
As per the guidelines, staff are required to carry all protective components and must be fully equipped either before reaching or immediately upon arriving at the fire incident sites. “As this practice is standard for firefighters globally, our personnel must adopt similar protocols,” Sarangi said.
During firefighting operations, the personnel frequently encounter extreme temperatures. These suits are designed to provide protection against radiant heat up to 1,600C, sources said. “Operating without proper protection can result in severe thermal injuries and bodily harm. Even with full protection, direct contact with hot surfaces can cause immediate skin blistering, emphasising the mandatory requirement of the suits. Station officers and their superiors will verify during inspections that each staff member possesses and properly maintains their fire proximity suit,” Sarangi said.