25% posts of officers and personnel vacant in Mumbai fire brigade

At a time when incidents of fire taking place in Mumbai Metropolis every month shooting up and Mumbai fire brigade is in the process of making itself high tech, but the gloomy fact remains the same that this force is being run with only 75 per cent staffers and officers. With 25 per cent posts remain vacant in this force, it feels helpless and hapless to discharge its duties effectively. The revelation of 25 per cent posts vacant in this force has come through an RTI query filed by RTI Activist Anil Galgali. 

RTI Activist Anil Galgali sought information from the Mumbai fire brigade about sanctioned posts, working posts and vacant posts in the department. The Mumbai fire brigade told Anil Galgali that there are 14 types of posts filled with 3694 perssonels for direct action. Out of these, 2760 posts are presently functioning while 934 posts are vacant. 

Most of these posts are of the fire extinguishers. Out of 2340 posts, 604 posts are vacant. Thereafter, the posts of 159 Machine driver  are vacant. The posts of 69 Chief Fire Extinguishers, 66 Junior officers, 17 Senior Centre Officers, 10  Centre Officers are vacant. The post of Deputy Chief Technical Officer also vacant. 

The Mumbai Fire Brigade workshop has 29 types of 125 posts out of which 62 posts are vacant and 66 posts are employed. The workshop is important wing of the fire brigade and has indirect links with the force. 

Anil Galgali expressed surprise at the 25 per cent vacancy as it is an important department as well as an important wing to ensure safety and security of Mumbaikars. So he has written letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and BMC Commissioner demanding this department should be given utmost priority and therefore the vacant post must be filled immediately so that Mumbaikars safety and security are not compromised.