This morning, the fire brigade paid homage to the martyrs of the Great Dock Explosion where 66 officers and staff were killed on April 14, 1944. Rao blamed Mumbai's high risk situation on its huge and rising population, slums, high-rises, oil and chemical refineries, among other factors.

``People need to know more about fire hazards and the need to observe safety measures. Even if there are sophisticated fire-fighting gadgets, they are ill-maintained, paralysing fire-fighting efforts. On the other hand, haphazard electrical wiring can impose a load that can trigger fires,'' explained Rao.

As part of Fire Service Week, fire officers will go to different localities and conductmock demonstrations and lectures on safety. The fire brigade will also roll out India's first `Safety Education Van' on the streets of the metropolis on May Day. This van will form part of a continuous effort to keep fire fighting awareness burning beyond Fire Service Week.

The van will be equipped with a video, flight-projector, public address system, fire-extinguishers and related paraphernalia. It will tour different target areas in the city ranging from hutments to high-rises and will conduct lectures and mock demonstrations.

``Although we constantly try to hammer in home truths, we know that one in ten will go back and ponder about them. That serves our objective,'' observed Rao.