The Governor of Maharashtra Ramesh Bais inaugurated the Fire Service Week and launched the Maharashtra Fire Services Personnel Welfare Fund Raising Campaign by making his donation to the Flag Fund at Raj Bhavan Mumbai on Fri (14 April).
The Governor also presented the President's Fire Service Medals and Scrolls to 13 Fire Officers and leading firemen from Mumbai and other parts of the State on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion the Governor stressed the need to create a modern, well-equipped, well-staffed and modern Fire Fighting Force for Mumbai and the State. The Governor also called for conducting regular fire audits of housing societies and industrial establishments.
The Governor appealed to the citizens to donate generously to the Fire Services Personnel Welfare Fund which is used for the welfare of family members of fire services personnel. Director of Maharashtra Fire Services Santosh Warick affixed the Fire Service Flag on the apparel of the Governor.
How National Fire Service Day is linked to 1944 Bombay explosion
The Fire Service Day is commemorated on 14th April to remember the fire services personnel who lost their lives in the devastating fire caused by the explosions in the Mumbai Dock Explosion in the year 1944.
On April 14, 1971, during World War I, a major fire broke out in the British freighter ‘SS Fort Stikine’ on Victoria dock at Bombay port in which 71 firefighters lost their lives to save lives and assets. SS fort Stikine ship held up a million litres of lubricating oil barrels, ammunition, detonators, cotton bales, currency note, gold, and currencies.
At the port the ship was parked on April 12 without any safety concerns but on April 14, it caught fire and exploded due to the storage of 1400 tonnes of explosives. Due to fire and explosion, the entire Victoria dock was abolished. Approximately 800 to 1300 people lost their lives in this catastrophe.
Also Read: We Can Make Maharashtra A Fire-Free State: CM Eknath Shinde
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