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35.6.3 The local fire service can be requested to demonstrate firecontrol measures and also educate the staff about precautions to betaken. As far as possible, elementary precautions such as using ashtray for cigarette butts, switching off electrical fittings and applianceswhen not required and preventing over heating of junctionboxes/plugs and preventing short circuits, can be observed by allmembers. It is important to have the nodal officer or in his absenceanother officer as fire drill coordinator. Without such a person, chaosand confusion could result. At all times, for major or minor fires, ourstaff should display good discipline and self control. First aid forminor burn and injuries should be known to the nodal officer andalso to some staff members. If there is a CGHS dispensary or medicalunit nearby, they should also be associated with the fire drill.Availability of ambulance or emergency vehicle should be ensured.Besides, the fire fighting equipments normally contained ingovernment offices namely fire extinguishers, buckets of water andsand should always be available in a pre-designated spot. Usually it isfound that these buckets are empty and the buckets themselves haverusted and become unserviceable. Nodal Officer should inspect thefixtures and ensure that all of them including water pipes, alarm bellsand smoke detectors are in working order.35.6.4 Overhead/ceiling water sprinklers are now being provided incertain buildings. This equipment is very delicate in nature. Itresponds to changes in temperature and emitting of smoke. Hence,staff members should be advised not to burn papers and wastematerial in the office premises. The CPWD Engineers or buildingsupervisor should periodically check the sprinkler system and ensurethat it is in working order. Since water is not provided around theclock in all cities, we should have our own storage facility on the roofor elsewhere. The bigger cities have water hydrants to be used by fireservice personnel. We should ensure that these areas are kept freefrom parking vehicles, rubbish and condemned articles are notdumped around this area. Elementary precautions to prevent fire canbe observed in all branches. For example, condemned article orarticles not in active use such as old carpets, wall hangings, sofa sets,wooden chairs and any other inflammable material should bepromptly disposed off. Similarly, exposed wires and junctions shouldbe covered. As far as possible the wiring should be placed in PVC pipeand firmly attached to the wall instead of hanging loose in differentparts of the room. Concealed wiring should be adopted whereverfeasible.35.6.5 Finally in those branches which do not have fire controlmeasures or fire control plan, nodal officer should immediately startworking for a rudimentary system in place at the earliest. OfPage 233 of 233