Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Fire and Emergency Services has inspected 1,295 commercial, government and private establishments across the state in an 11-day special fire safety audit campaign aimed at strengthening fire prevention and emergency preparedness.
The “Surakhita Odisha, Viksit Odisha” campaign, launched on September 15, continued through September 25, with senior fire service officers and special teams conducting inspections of fire safety arrangements.
The Central Zone headquartered at Kataka accounted for the highest number of inspections at 510 establishments, followed by the Southern Zone at Brahmapur with 401 and the Northern Zone at Sambalpur with 381. A special team led by Chief Fire Officer Debendra Kumar Swain audited three establishments.
The daily inspection figures were 119 on September 15, 90 on September 16, 90 on September 17, 155 on September 18, 134 on September 19, 91 on September 20, 159 on September 21, 126 on September 22, 115 on September 23, 115 on September 24 and 101 on September 25.
During the audits, officials checked the validity of Fire Safety Certificates, availability and functioning of fire-fighting equipment, accessibility of emergency exits and doors, operational status of fire extinguishing systems and arrangements for safe evacuation during emergencies.
Fire personnel also provided awareness and training to staff on evacuation procedures, basic fire safety measures and the proper use of fire extinguishers.
Where violations, inadequate equipment or other deficiencies were detected, compliance notices were issued with stipulated deadlines for rectification. The department said corrective measures were being monitored to ensure that deficiencies were addressed within the prescribed time.
The campaign aims to go beyond identifying shortcomings by strengthening fire prevention, preparedness, response and evacuation systems to safeguard lives and property, the Fire and Emergency Services said.
The department said the special inspection drive would continue across Odisha in the coming days in a more extensive, regular and stringent manner.
