International Firefighters Day observed

"International Firefighters Day-2016" was observed here on Wednesday like other parts of the world to recognize and honour the sacrifices that firefighters make to ensure that their communities and environment are as safe as possible. To mark the day, different events were held in which speakers paid tributes to the firefighters who lost their lives while protecting people.
They said that firefighting was a respectable profession across the world and in developed countries, the main focus of the fire and rescue services was fire prevention, therefore, departments concerned would have to come forward to establish safer communities in Pakistan. They said Rescue 1122 provided timely emergency care to the public without discrimination, and the department was working with communities on emergency prevention and disaster risk reduction. They said fire emergencies were increasing which established the need for an effective fire prevention strategy.
Upon the directions of Director General Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122), the day was commemorated all over the province of Punjab. All the District Emergency Officers (DEOs) conducted seminars, awareness activities and organised ceremonies in remembrance of martyred firefighters of Rescue 1122, who lost their lives while saving the lives of others, a spokesman for Rescue 1122 said.
The Rescue-1122 also arranged specialised lectures for under training cadets in Emergency Services Academy. Experts in the field of firefighting delivered lectures about the importance of the day, modern trends in firefighting, role and responsibilities of firefighters in case of any untoward incident. The rescue cadets in academy also organised mock exercises related to firefighting, rescuing victims from collapsed structure, rescuing victims from height in case of fire incident and safe practices for fire prevention.
In Lahore, DG Rescue 1122 Brigadier Dr Arshad Zia (R) and DG Emergency Services Academy (ESA) Brigadier Amir Hamza (R) received Flag March comprising fire vehicles including Aerial Platforms, Turn Table Ladders, Fire Investigation Unit, and others. The Flag March started from Central Station Muslim Town moving towards Liberty Roundabout, Jail Road, New Tollinton Market and ended at Rescue 1122 Headquarters, Shama Chowk, Ferozepur Road, Lahore.
Dr Arshad Zia, Amir Hamza, Faheem Ahmad Quershi, Deputy Director (HR&A) Dr Foaad Shazad Mirza, Naeem Mukhtar, Dr Ahmad Raza and all senior officers participated in March Past and awareness walk whereas, fire rescuers, lead fire rescuers and other rescue officials clothed in fire suits standing on fire vehicles raised slogans of fire safety.
While addressing the rescuers at Headquarters, DG ESA Brigadier Amir Hamza (R) said that Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) has established modern Fire Service and Disaster Emergency Response teams in Pakistan in limited resources on modern line and rescuers have been trained with latest equipment & vehicles in Emergency Services Academy to maintain International Standard. He said trained rescuers of Rescue 1122 are trend-setters in the field of professional firefighting in Pakistan and I salute to the selfless efforts of rescuers for providing sense of safety to the community.