Jamshedpur’s fire-response capacity is under pressure ahead of Diwali, with ageing engines and severe staff shortages at the Mango and Golmuri fire stations raising concerns about the department’s ability to manage simultaneous fires and rescue operations.
The two stations have a mix of large and small fire engines, but several vehicles are between 20 and 25 years old and require frequent repairs. The stations also have far fewer personnel than required to operate their vehicles and respond to emergencies across multiple locations.
Mango fire station has four engines, including two large and two small vehicles. Both large engines are old, while one of the smaller vehicles is new and the other is ageing. The station has only seven firefighters, although each engine requires a five-member crew comprising a driver, a head constable and three firefighters.
“We have only seven firefighters, whereas each fire engine requires at least five personnel. The available manpower is inadequate, particularly when incidents occur at multiple locations simultaneously,” station in-charge Sanjay Kumar Singh said.
Ten home guard personnel have been deployed at Mango during Diwali to support the station during the festive period. Staff leave has also been cancelled, but the department’s existing shortage remains.
Golmuri fire station has eight engines, including five large and three small vehicles. Four of its large engines are old, while one is new. Among the smaller vehicles, one is ageing. Most of the old engines are 20 to 25 years old and have been described as being in poor condition.
“Of the smaller vehicles, one is old. Most of the ageing engines are 20 to 25 years old and in poor condition,” station in-charge Ram Pravesh Ojha said. Golmuri has only eight personnel, well below the station’s requirement. Fourteen home guards have been deployed there to assist with emergencies.
Ojha said the staffing shortage could affect firefighting and rescue operations. “We are managing to keep the old vehicles operational somehow. We have written to the authorities several times, requesting more staff and new vehicles,” he said.
The operational challenge is particularly significant during Diwali, when fire stations may have to respond to incidents at more than one location while maintaining crews for rescue work. A five-member team is required for each engine, meaning the number of available firefighters can limit how many vehicles are deployed at the same time.
Fire officials have advised residents to allow children to burst crackers only in open spaces and under adult supervision. They have also asked households to keep buckets of water and sand nearby so that small fires can be tackled before emergency crews arrive.
The immediate Diwali deployment includes 10 home guards at Mango and 14 at Golmuri. Officials have also cancelled staff leave during the festive period, while requests for additional personnel and replacement vehicles remain pending with the authorities.
