Fire safety structure fails to keep pace with city’s growth

Amritsar, once among the earliest cities in post-partition India to set up an independent municipal fire station, is now grappling with severe infrastructure and manpower shortages in its fire safety apparatus. Despite a rising number of fire incidents due to scorching summer heat and frequent short-circuits, the city’s Fire Department is struggling to cope with the pressure, constrained by outdated equipment, insufficient staff and a glaring gap in the number of fire stations required for a population that has now crossed 16 lakh.

According to the recommendations of the Standing Fire Advisory Committee (SFAC), which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs, there should be at least one fire station for every 50,000 residents. By that standard, Amritsar needs no fewer than 24 fire stations. Yet, the city currently operates only five fully functional fire stations, namely, at Town Hall, Civil Lines, Berry Gate, Gilwali Gate and Focal Point. Additionally, a small auxiliary centre exists at Dhab Basti Ram, run by the Seva Society.

Each time a fire incident is reported, the nearest station dispatches available vehicles and personnel. If the blaze escalates, vehicles from other stations are called in. But with only 33 regular firefighters and 83 outsourced staff covering such a vast and expanding urban sprawl, the response capability is stretched to its limits. Out of the department’s 18 vehicles, only 16 have a 4,500-litre capacity, while two smaller jeep-like vehicles hold just 300 litres. Based on current urban demands, the city should have at least 250 personnel and over 30 fire tenders to be minimally equipped. Many of the current vehicles are outdated, often requiring repair and servicing. The main challenge is the geography of the city itself. Narrow lanes in the densely packed walled city severely limit vehicle access, and most buildings do not have mandatory fire safety clearance. With no fixed water hydrants available, firefighters are often forced to draw water from nearby sarovars (sacred pools) or the water tanks of malls and commercial complexes.

The Fire Department receives approximately 700 fire calls annually. Yet, with limited resources, it is also forced to serve areas far beyond city limits. Fire-fighting teams from Amritsar regularly travel up to 70 km to attend incidents in border towns like Khemkaran and Sri Hargobindpur. Of the 10 surrounding towns — including Beas, Rayya, Baba Bakala, Jandiala, Kathunangal, Majitha, Rajasansi, Lopoke Chugawan, Ajnala and Attari — only Jandiala and Majitha now have their own basic fire services.

The Fire Department had proposed in 2020 to open new stations in critical areas: Zone No. 6 to cover Batala and Majitha Roads, another at the MC Head Office to cover Ranjit Avenue and the bypass area, and a third along GT Road to serve regions from Ram Talai to the Jalandhar-Pathankot bypass. The Municipal Corporation had even identified sites and arranged basic equipment, estimating the need for 48 firemen and 16 drivers to run these four stations. The General House of the MC unanimously approved the proposal and sent it to the Punjab Government but the plan has since stalled, awaiting the state government’s nod.

Despite these limitations, Senior Fire Officer Dilwagh Singh maintains that the department is equipped to respond to emergencies.

Amritsar