The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, has expressed his goal of making the state “fire-free” as Mumbai Fire Brigade’s Fire Service Week begins on Thursday.
In a statement regarding the installation of fire evacuation lifts in all new buildings over 70 meters tall, Shinde commended the energy department for its vision and said that the lifts would aid in the evacuation process during fire emergencies.
He also stressed the importance of following all fire safety rules to ensure preparedness in the event of an emergency and called on civilians and infrastructure developers to take responsibility for creating a fire-free state.
To honor the 71 firemen who lost their lives in the Bombay Port fire on April 14, 1944, all government offices and municipal bodies will observe national Fire Service Day on April 14, with the entire week being dedicated to Fire Service week.
The state energy department has announced the installation of fire evacuation lifts in all new buildings with a height of 70 meters and above, a move that Shinde calls a “visionary step”. He emphasized the need for following all the rules made by the department to ensure preparedness to fight fire emergencies, adding that little consciousness by civilians and infra developers can make Maharashtra a fire-free state.