KARACHI, May 25: The city government has restructured its fire department, dividing it into five zones, each to be headed by a senior station fire officer, in a surprise move as the staff remained unaware of the purpose behind the fresh orders.

The authorities also promoted junior employees and appointed them senior station fire officers, a newly created position, apparently in serious violation of the promotion rules of the department that has a total strength of over 900 staff.

“Twenty fires stations and an emergency response centre of the fire brigade department have been divided into five zones – A, B, C, D and E,” said a source, referring to fresh orders issued by the municipal services department of the city government.

“Four fire stations have been accommodated in Zone-A and Zone-C, while three fire stations have been placed in Zone-B. Five fire stations have been placed each in Zone-D and Zone-E,” he said, adding that the orders did not elaborate reasons behind this action.

The source said it had sparked resentment among senior and competent officers of the department, as they would now report to their juniors who had been promoted as senior station fire officers in each zone. “The five sub-fire officers, who were performing under their respective station fire officers, would now supervise at least three fire stations in the newly created zones,” he said, adding that these promotions and appointments were beyond any logic and promotion rules.

However, the authorities believe change in organisational structure of the department will yield better results as growing fire incidents demand some important decisions. “It would help organising the chain of command in the department,” said Saleem Ehtesham, Chief Fire Officer.

“In view of the rising number of fire incidents, there was a need to reorganise the whole department and the fresh step is part of this scheme. With the new structure in place, the department would now assess its capabilities of fire fighting and rescue services and enhance such operations in the second phase of reforms,” he said.

Firefighters already have serious reservations over the recent violations of promotion rules allowed by the city government as junior employees, including a telephone operator and an ambulance driver, have been elevated as fire officers.

The chief fire officer ruled out any violation of rules, saying that the promotions have been awarded on individuals’ performance rather than considering their seniority.

“It’s natural to award those fire fighters who performed really well during the recent incidents when the whole department was under pressure due to increasing number of incidents. One should look into the individual’s performance before making any complaint about the whole process,” he added.

However, sources said the recent move had drawn ire of senior employees, who termed it an action to accommodate promotions of some blue-eyed employees of the department. “A few of the officers promoted as senior station fire officers have already been facing departmental inquiry in the Tahir Plaza fire case as the officials failed to call in a snorkel to extinguish the blaze that had engulfed the high-rise building,” sources added.

Restructuring of the fire department was the second move in weeks after out of channel promotions of some of the employees last month, said a source, adding that the high-ups denied giving reasons behind the latest move when some of the senior members of the department approached them.

Zone A: Central Fire Station, Saddar Fire Station, Boulton Market Fire Station, Lyari Fire Station.

Zone B: Nazimabad Fire Station, North Karachi Fire Station, Orangi Fire Station.

Zone C: Baldia Fire Station, Site Fire Station, Truck Stand Fire Station, Emergency Response Centre.

Zone D: Landhi Fire Station, Korangi Fire Station, MSS Fire Station (Malir), Cattle Colony Fire Station, Shah Faisal Fire Station.

Zone E: Manzoor Colony Fire Station, Gulistan-i-Mustafa Fire Station, Gulistan-i-Jauhar Fire Station, Gulshan-i-Iqbal Fire Station, Civic Centre Fire Station.