Firefighters

Baba Umar
RISING KASHMIR
SRINAGAR, Dec. 14

Hundreds of would-be firefighters these days are trying their luck to get into the rolls of Department of Fire and Emergency Services. The first phase of selection is being conducted in the city’s Polo Ground where a large number of comrades and relatives of the aspirants are spectator to the selection process.

“I am hopeful that my brother would get through the first phase,” says Imran Ahmad, whose brother Majid just finished the first lap. “Come on--seven more,” shouts Imran on toes as Majid overtakes another runner.

Unending columns of candidates that stretch up to the entrance of the ground have come for the grill. The temperature is dipping further down and the crowd seated along the circumference of ground is clapping for their favorites. However, the filtration procedure to select worthy candidates is tough and only the tough would get a break.

“Get the ambulance,” calls a panel member as a boy while finishing his fifth lap of two and half kilometer race faints. “This is how we choose men who never give up,” the panelist says.

Over 53,500 candidates from across the state are vying for the 361 placements. The eligibility criterion for the posts is 8th pass out. However, department officials say they have received applications from the candidates who are graduates or post graduates.

“They will get the preference, but they have to face all the rounds of the first phase,” says Director General of Fire and Emergency Department, G.A Bhat.

By ‘all the rounds’ he means: Two and half kilometer race that is to be covered in twelve minutes; Beam test, where a person has to kiss the steel rod that is placed some 8 feet above the ground; Balance test, in which a person has to shoulder a hosepipe followed by 100 metre race and finally the Firemen’s Test, wherein a person would lift an assumed dead person on his shoulder followed by a 100 metre race.
“After this stage we will be conducting viva and written tests in the second phase of interview,” says the official.