Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood on Monday directed officials to modernise the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), strengthen fire prevention systems and improve emergency response across the Capital. 

His directions, issued at a review meeting at the Secretariat, came nearly a week after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta called for a city-wide firefighting audit following the May 10 blaze in Vivek Vihar, where nine persons, including a toddler, lost their lives.

Chairing a review meeting at the Delhi Secretariat, Mr. Sood said the government is prioritising the technological upgradation of the DFS to ensure quicker and more effective responses to fire incidents. 

He asked divisional fire officers to coordinate with resident welfare associations, market associations, religious committees, park clubs and other social organisations to conduct fire safety awareness drives in their areas. The campaigns, he said, should include mock drills and sessions on preventive measures and the “dos and don’ts” during fire emergencies. 

Mr. Sood said divisional officers would be directly responsible for preventing and controlling fire incidents in their jurisdictions. 

According to an official statement, the meeting focused on reducing the DFS response time, modernising its internal communication network, developing a command-and-control system and providing advanced technical training to fire personnel in line with evolving technologies. 

Officials also discussed fire prevention measures, emergency preparedness, gaps in existing fire safety mechanisms, procurement of modern firefighting equipment and vehicles, and the proposed ‘Fire Fighting Master Plan’. The department has been asked to prepare a comprehensive master plan for the next three, 15 and 25 years, keeping in view Delhi’s growing population and rapid urbanisation.