Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has procured advanced gadgets to put out forest fires this year.
“We have procured a drone worth Rs 7.5 lakh and 43 gadgets, including fire suits, fire safety spectacles, shoes, air blower and fire-retardant suite, portable fire extinguisher, smoke-proof goggle, helmet, and fire beaters,” Coimbatore district forest officer N Jayaraj said.
The drone has a lifting capacity of 10kg. “We can use the drone to put out the fire in inaccessible areas of the reserve forest. We are also planning to use the drone to supply food and water to the field staff while dousing the forest fire,” Jayaraj said.
“The frontline staff will wear fire suits. The suits will help them escape if they are surrounded by forest fire. We have also procured 28 fire extinguisher balls. The frontline staff can use the ball, which is light and portable, to extinguish the forest fire at the initial stage. We are also planning to use the fire extinguisher balls in inaccessible areas of the reserve forest by drones,” Jayaraj added.
He said the department has also procured around 30 customized backpacks.
“We can store at least five to 10 litres of drinking water in each backpack. The frontline staff can wear the backpack and sip water through a tube while dousing operation,” Jayaraj said.
“We hope that the new gadgets will help the forest department act swiftly to extinguish forest fires,” he added.
The forest department has deployed 30 fire watchers and 106 personnel from the anti-poaching watchers (APWs) and rapid response teams (RRTs) to create fire lines. “We must create forest fire lines for a stretch of 418km. So far, we have completed for 150km.”
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