Fending fire

Deputy chief fire officer of the Fire and Emergency Services, Mehernosh F. Dastoor is the only certified international trainer in India in the Saver methodology, notes a write up by F. S. Wadia, proprietor of Wadia Body Builders, manufacturers of all types of fire fighting vehicles and pumps.

Following the earthquake of 2001 which devastated many areas of Gujarat, some foreign countries and donors realizing the plight of the fire services, offered to help. Cordaid, a Dutch NGO, offered funds to a Dutch agency, International Centre for Emergency Techniques, to train and equip the Ahmedabad Fire Department. Dastoor was among the 24 men trained in the Netherlands and Germany. Eleven of these men certified as trainers and passed on their skills to their colleagues on their return. Of these 11, Mehernosh was the only one to certify internationally. "After having received this training the local firemen can be compared to any in the world. They are not only well trained but well equipped and know how to use and operate each and every tool available. Their trainer Charles McClung claims that the Ahmedabad fire brigade is more efficient than New York’s,” noted a report in Divya Bhaskar, July 7, 2003.

Mehernosh Dastoor (right) during the Navsari floods of 2004

Son of Fali Dastoor, the former chief fire officer of Ahmedabad, 42-year-old Me­her­nosh passed out from the Nagpur National Fire Service College with honors. Subsequently he earned distinction at all the other officers’ courses and received many state and central government medals and awards for bravery and meritorious services. The 2001 earthquake was a turning point in his career when he was among those who worked round the clock to rescue others. Leaving his own family behind in those terror filled days, he was busy saving others.

"This Dastoor tends another fire,” Wadia provides an insight, adding, "Being a fireman in India is not an easy job. You have practically no tools available to you. You are called in for any kind of emergency. The general public does not value the risk you put your life to on their behalf. The basic training that they undergo does not prepare them for the kind of emergencies that may arise, especially in an area and city like Ahmedabad with its chemical factories and surrounding refineries.”