The Mumbai fire brigade has decided to appoint a quick-response team to serve as first respondents for 22 administrative wards in the city. In the hope of reducing the Mumbai fire brigade’s response time in peak hours from 12-14 minutes to 6-7 minutes, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will purchase 22 quick-response vehicles (QRV). Firefighters for these, however, will be appointed on a contractual basis.

Chief Fire Officer Hemant Parab recently wrote to all ward officers, informing them that the vehicles would be delivered eight months after the issuance of the purchase order. According to Parab’s letter, the QRVs will offer better services to Mumbai citizens during disasters and also meet the response time criteria set by the Standing Fire Advisory Council of the Home Ministry.