Lack of modern building infrastructure for fire stations affects emergency response in city

Anna Nagar fire tender parked on the road in Shenoy Nagar in Chennai owing to lack of space for fire station on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: M. Vedhan

Lack of modern building infrastructure for fire stations in areas such as Anna Nagar has increased the risk pertaining to fire safety and disaster response in the city.

Ward 104 resident M.A.Balakrishnan of Triveni Colony Welfare Association, Belly Area, said the residents have been calling fire and rescue personnel frequently also because of snakes in the area. “They reach in 5 to 15 minutes. Preparedness will improve with better infrastructure for fire safety. The response time is crucial. We need modern infrastructure for the fire station in Anna Nagar,” he said.

Areas such as Maduravoyal also do not have such facilities for fire and rescue services. Residents who frequently call fire and rescue personnel for emergency response have complained about poor infrastructure facilities for the fire station in Anna Nagar.

Anna Nagar ward 104 councillor T.V.Shemmozhi said the fire tenders and equipment should be housed in a proper building to prevent damages to the engines and equipment and improve preparedness of the personnel. Some of the fire and rescue personnel have taken ill this summer heat because of poor infrastructure in the station.  

“The TNHB has land to construct a fire station. Large parcels of land may be earmarked near the Cooum River,” said Mr.Shemmozhi.

The fire and rescue personnel are eyeing a large an 8-acre parcel of land in Shenoy Nagar to construct a modern fire station in one acre area. But the land is designated as OSR land which cannot be used for such a facility. As the GCC has been unable to identify suitable land, fire safety has become a major issue discussed by residents’ associations. Fire stations in areas such as Virugambakkam also do not have their own buildings. The facility in Triplicane has been demolished and is set to be reconstructed. 

Chennai Corporation and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority have not identified suitable land parcels for construction of a modern fire station in Anna Nagar for the past five years. The fire station in Anna Nagar requires one acre of land for construction of a modern facility. But the fire tenders have been parked on the road with all the 17 fire and rescue personnel housed in a small 1200 sq ft temporary shed opposite Amma Arangam in Shenoy Nagar.

Residents said the fire and rescue personnel have compromised themselves by accepting a 1200 sq ft land from Chennai Corporation for construction of the shed. The fire engines and modern equipment are exposed to the sun and rain, damaging machines, affecting emergency response. The fire and rescue personnel require more land and large modern buildings for training and improving preparedness for emergency response.

Urban planning experts have stressed the need for modern buildings and infrastructure in Chennai to improve disaster response by fire and rescue personnel.  Anna University former professor of Urban Engineering K.P. Subramanian said the CMDA has to take an initiative to ensure that fire stations are provided as per the planning standards. 

“The Urban and Regional Development Plan Formulation and Implementation Guidelines, 2014 of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs proposes a threshold population of 90, 000 for the provision of fire stations. Land area required may be about one acre. CMDA may make an inventory of the existing status of the locations of fire stations to identify the areas, where it needs to be provided afresh or expand the existing facilities. In the extended areas, land may be suitably reserved in the upcoming lay out plans. In core areas, they may identify unbuilt vacant lands and notify them under the Land Acquisition act”.