Port Blair, Apr 16: Together with the rest of the country, the A & N Police Fire Service is observing the Fire Service Week from 14th to 20th April this year. The theme for this year is ‘Awareness in fire safety for growth of national infrastructure (AGNI)’. The Fire Service Week is organized every year in memory of a major fire incident that occurred on 14th April, 1944 at ‘Victoria Harbour’ in Mumbai, in which 336 persons died and 1040 were injured. Out of 336 who died, 68 were Officers and Jawans of Mumbai Fire Brigade. The tragedy occurred when a ship namely “SS FORT STRIKINE” loaded with explosive materials exploded while berthing at Jetty causing fire in several other vessels berthed in the wharf.
On 14th April, 2023, ‘Fire Service Week’ commenced with the observance of ‘Commemoration Day’ to pay homage to the brave Officers and men of Mumbai Fire Brigade who lost their lives during the fire fighting operation. Mr. Shivendra Kant Tewari, IPS, Dy. Inspector General of Police (Fire Service) was the chief guest on the commemoration day parade. In his address, the chief guest highlighted the duties and responsibilities of Fire service personnel towards safety of life and property of the Islanders and also about the role of Fire Service personnel in the event of any type of disaster in these Islands. He appreciated the Fire Service personnel of A & N Islands for being alert and attentive in their job and exhorted them to maintain a high degree of professionalism. A two minute silence was observed at Fire Service Parade ground in the memory of those Fire Service personnel who sacrificed their lives during discharge of duty in the year 2022. The names of martyrs are Mr. Praveen Kumar, Fire Operator, Delhi Fire Service, Mr. Vasudev Sadashiv Haldankar, Leading Fire Fighter, Goa Fire & Emergency Services, Mr. Nitin Singh Rana, Uttarakhand Fire & Emergency Services and Mr. Bridhi Chandra Ekka, Police Constable (Fireman), Andaman & Nicobar Police Fire Service.
At the end, there was a fleet march of Fire Service vehicles through the Port Blair Municipal area to promote awareness among the public about fire prevention.
