Delhi: Nearly half of fire brigade posts vacant

NEW DELHI: Delhi Fire Service (DFS) is in a bad shape, with about 48% of the posts in the fire fighting staff lying vacant, including over 50% of fireman's posts.
According to data accessed through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the total sanctioned posts of the Fire Fighting Staff is 3,312, out of that 1,583 posts are vacant. "Of the five sanctioned posts for Chief Fire Officer, three are vacant. The department is functioning with only four divisional officers, in place of nine sanctioned," the RTI reply said.

While the fireman or fire operator is considered a key part of the department, against the sanctioned 2,367 posts for fireman, only 1,114 are filled.

"A total of 1,253 posts of fireman against the sanctioned 2,367 are vacant," it said. The situation is no better for the communication staff - against the sanctioned post of 133, 80 posts are vacant.