The present issue of the journal is the last one in the current year 2004. Looking back during this year all the four issues of the quarterly journal “Fire Engineer” have been published in time and supplied to our esteemed readers. These issues contained very knowledgeable lucid technical articles by eminent professionals and experienced fire safety experts. The knowledge in the field, we assume must have benefited the fire safety professionals in general and the student members of the Institution of Fire Engineers aspiring to take up graduateship examination conducted by the Institution in September every year.

To reduce losses property and human lives the fire service have been striving hard for better fire safety environment. But this gigantic task cannot be accomplished without the support and cooperation of masses and their committed involvement in the noble cause of fire safety is a must.

There are a number of fire safety norms prescribed but these are rarely implemented to prevent entirely avoidable fire accidents.

Even the administration entrusted with the responsibility for implementation some times feels handicapped to enforce the norms being understaffed to cope up with the enormous work load. Fire Officers are not given due recognition and position in the official hierarchy. Infrastructural facilities are lacking or nonexistent.

There is urgent to monitor Industrial Units strictly by all concerned agencies in respect of Fire Safety point of view. If fire experts are involved from the planning, designing, construction, completion & commissioning stages with regard to the requirements of Fire Prevention, Protection and Fire Fighting measures it can go a long in reducing fire mishaps in Industrial establishments.

The Institution of Fire Engineers on its part is full filling is commitment in this regard. The present issue contains articles on Oil/Gas Safety besides regular features, like letters to editor, information on promotions/transfers, news, awards etc.

We again request the heads of Fire Services, Safety Engineers to contribute articles for publication in the journal and inform about various activities in respective Fire Services to share the same with fire service fraternity.

In the end we wish a very happy & prosperous New Year 2005 to the esteemed readers of “Fire Engineer” and their families as also the entire Fire Service fraternity.

JAI HIND

(K. P. SHARMA)
Editor