Like other parts of the globe, "International Firefighters' Day" is being observed on Saturday (today) in a bid to raise awareness among general public about fire safety and make them aware about the importance of fire prevention. The day was instituted after proposal emailed out across the world on January 4‚ 1999 due to the deaths of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a wildfire in Australia.
The day is marked to pay respect to the living rescuers and fire fighters apart from paying homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives while protecting and rescuing their fellow human beings during the emergencies and disasters. The objective of the day is to pay tribute to firefighters and to educate general public about fire safety and make them aware about the importance of fire prevention and necessary arrangements in residential areas, industrial units and factories, so the safety of precious lives and properties could be ensured.
The Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) will commemorate the day by fire demonstration at Emergency Services Academy at Ferozepur Road, Lahore. The Director General Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue1122) Dr Rizwan Naseer will also brief the honourable participants about the performance of first modern Fire Service of Pakistan, which has responded to over 42,000 fire incidents and saved losses worth over 122 billion by timely response and professional fire fighting.
Rizwan Naseer has directed all the District Emergency Officers to celebrate the day in a befitting manner by arranging awareness walks, organising seminars and making commitment to build safer communities in Pakistan. Dr Rizwan Naseer, while paying homage to the brave firefighters of Rescue 1122, who lost their lives in line of duty, said that they are the real heroes of society. They sacrificed their own lives but saved others by promising to provide sense of safety with the comprehensive, professional and effective management.
DG Rescue said that it is our obligation to respect firefighters, who enter burning buildings risking their own lives for saving the lives of others. He said the Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) has established first modern Fire Service in Pakistan. Many volunteer firefighters provide their valuable services at no charge - just wanting to give back to their towns and cities while receiving on-the-job training" he said.