Kathmandu, April 10:

The three Judhha Fire Brigade Offices of Kathmandu Valley will soon be put under the control of the Armed Police Force. The move is on the anvil after the cabinet decided to hand over the fire brigade offices to the APF, officials at the Juddha Fire Brigade offices said.

“We have received a letter from the home ministry for necessary preparations to hand over all the property of the Fire Brigade to the APF,” said Bijaya Lopchan of the Juddha Fire Brigade office at New Road.

Earlier, the APF was reluctant to take charge of the offices but after the government decided to provide it the land that the fire brigade offices are using, the APF agreed to take them all.

According to Lopchan, the APF will utilise the firemen while the administrative staff will be deputed to the home ministry.

At present, 20 staff, including six administrative staff, are stationed at the New Road office where the total strength should be 40.

According to the acting head of the Bhaktapur Fire Brigade Office, Uddhav Dahal, there are 24 staff working at the office including six administrative staff. “We are ready on our side for the handover,” Dahal said.

At the Pulchowk Fire Brigade Office, 17 persons are working in an office which has 38 posts. Of the 17, seven are in the administrative section.