Shimla, April 29,
With its legacy of British-era urban design and a century-and-a-half-old fire manual, Shimla has emerged as a model hill town in disaster preparedness—saving property worth ₹223 crore over the past five years.
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Relying on the fire manual framed during the colonial era nearly 150 years ago, the city’s fire services have not only preserved its historical character but have also become increasingly effective in tackling rising fire incidents.
A key strength of Shimla’s fire preparedness is its extensive network of 218 fire hydrants, strategically placed throughout the town and subjected to rigorous biannual inspections—particularly before the peak fire seasons in summer and winter. The highest concentration of hydrants remains in the colonial-era core: Mall Road (43), Lower Bazar (15), Middle Bazar and Ram Bazar (6), and Lakkar Bazar (9). However, modern residential areas such as Krishna Nagar, Lalpani, Bharari, Jakhu, US Club, BAG Office, Annadale, and Kaith have also been brought under this safety net, with 54 hydrants covering these regions.
In a significant innovation, the state fire department has developed a comprehensive fire hydrant map of Shimla, now being used as a model for replication in other towns across Himachal Pradesh. In addition, officials have created a ‘fire black spot’ map—identifying areas with the most frequent fire calls. These include Tutikandi (the most vulnerable due to dense pine forest), Bharari-Kelston, New Shimla, BCS-Shargeen, Mehli, Panthaghati, Annadale-Golphadi, and Taradevi.
According to the State Fire Officer, Shimla reported 118 fire-related incidents in 2024 alone. These included 99 forest fires, 10 rescue operations, and nine house fires. Prompt response from the city’s three main fire stations—Chhota Shimla, Mall Road, and Boileauganj—helped save property valued at ₹52.88 crore, though losses still amounted to ₹56.88 lakh.
In contrast, 2023 recorded significantly fewer incidents, with only 28 fire calls—25 forest fires and 13 rescue missions. Even so, swift interventions saved assets worth ₹21.11 crore, limiting damages to ₹13.39 lakh.
One of the most critical fire events in recent memory was the 2022 blaze at the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), which highlighted the urgent need for enhanced fire planning in public institutions. Since then, authorities have upgraded fire preparedness measures across key government and institutional buildings.
By complementing its historical fire manual with modern mapping tools and risk zone identification, Shimla continues to set an example in urban fire safety management—seamlessly blending its heritage with forward-thinking innovations.
