Kashmir Records 25 Per Cent Fall In Fire Incidents, Saves Rs 5,000 Crore In 2025 | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Fire and Emergency Services, Jammu and Kashmir, reported a fall in fire incidents in 2025 and presented a string of preparedness and public-safety gains on Wednesday, saying the decline reflected intensified prevention work, large-scale awareness drives and improved operational capacity.

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In a press conference, deputy director Aqib Hussain said the number of fire incidents fell by about 1,994 — roughly 25 per cent — compared with 2024, while coordinated response and early intervention helped save an estimated Rs 5,000 crore of property and limit losses to about Rs 300 crore.

Firefighters answered 6,039 fire calls, 59 rescue calls and 53 false alarms during the year, deploying 322 fire tenders and quick-response vehicles with the support of 2,157 personnel, the release said. The department also carried out 3,728 formal fire safety audits of hospitals, hotels, educational institutions, government offices and commercial premises and issued remedial recommendations to strengthen evacuation and firefighting arrangements.

Public outreach formed a central plank of the strategy. Under a long-running awareness campaign conceived by Director Alok Kumar (ADGP), Fire and Emergency Services, the department staged 9,887 awareness programmes across schools, colleges, hospitals and community venues, reaching more than 1.03 million people with fire-safety training and messaging designed to create a “Har Ghar Firefighter” — at least one trained responder in every household.

The release also detailed the department’s role in non-fire emergencies. Crews played a key part in flood relief operations, undertaking search, rescue and dewatering work at over 60 locations in Anantnag and Srinagar. Fire units were mobilised for “Operation Sindoor” in Poonch, Uri, Sopore and Kupwara, and more than 30 temporary fire stations were established along the two Shri Amarnathji Yatra routes to provide round-the-clock emergency cover for pilgrims.

Capacity building was advanced through the creation of a new Fire Training Centre at Bari Brahmana. Two batches have completed the Basic Firemanship Course and six refresher courses were held, the directorate said, adding that volunteers and public representatives in remote areas were trained in basic firefighting where professional response times may be longer.

The department framed the year’s performance as the outcome of prevention, preparedness and public participation under its strategic plan. “A measurable decline in incidents, extensive audits and a major awareness drive show that lives and property can be protected when professional response is matched by informed communities,” the release stated.

Officials said the gains will not lessen routine vigilance. The directorate urged households and businesses to follow simple safety measures — proper inspection of heating and electrical appliances, installation of MCBs and earth leakage protection, safe use of LPG and adequate ventilation — and to report emergencies on the single-point number 101.