Mumbai fire services has taken a giant leap of sorts by discarding its century-old uniform and providing its 2,300 personnel with hi-tech fire resistance gear within two months.
Mumbai fire services has taken a giant leap of sorts by discarding its century-old uniform and providing its 2,300 personnel with hi-tech fire resistance gear within two months.
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"The new uniforms and equipments are of international standards. Besides being water proof they can stand temperature up to 1,000 degree Celsius, thus helping maintain the body temperature," Chief Fire Officer P Rahangdale said.
The new gear will also drastically reduce burn injury cases from 60 per cent to 20 per cent.
"As they often get hurt during rescue operations, the new uniforms will ensure safety of the firemen and will protect them. Also, cases of burn injuries will come down from 20-25 cases every year," Rahangdale said.
Shedding the old navy blue uniform, the fire fighters for the first time will get special fire resistant fluorescent jackets and trousers worth Rs 35,000 each.
Special boots, harness belt, belt axe, helmet, gloves, T-shirt and hood will also be part of the kit.
The jacket, trousers and T-shirts are made up of special fire resistant material which has breathing apparatus. The helmets would have lights fitted on them. The head cover would be heavier and thermally insulative.
The new kit would cost Rs 30-crore, he said. The fire brigade department had put forward the proposal eight months back which got clearance from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s Standing Committee recently.
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