Fire department officials in Kothagudem are taking fire safety into classrooms this Diwali. Special awareness programmes on preventing fire accidents are being held on November 3 and 4 in schools and educational institutions across the area.

The drive follows orders from the Director General of the Fire Services Department. Local fire officials said the programmes are meant to reach students during the festival, when firecrackers are common and the risk of accidents rises.

On Tuesday, fire personnel visited two institutions: Chunchupalli Government Junior College and ZPHS Anandakhani school. At both locations, fire staff addressed students directly and walked them through the basics of staying safe.

Fire personnel explained the precautions to follow while bursting firecrackers, the steps to take when a fire breaks out, and the methods used to prevent such accidents.

That summary, as reported by the Kothagudem fire department, captures the core of the session. The lessons were practical rather than theoretical. Students were told what to watch for when lighting firecrackers and what to do if a blaze starts.

The team was led by Station Fire Officer Krishna Prasad. He was joined by fire staff members Raju, Kiran, Roop Singh, Ayub and Pratap, who took part in the awareness sessions.

Diwali brings light, noise and crowds into homes and neighbourhoods, and that is exactly why fire safety cannot be treated as an afterthought. A spark that lands on the wrong surface, a firecracker lit too close to a doorway, or a blaze that is not handled quickly can turn a festival evening into an emergency. Fire departments know this pattern well, and the decision to take the message into schools reflects that reality.

A local message with a household reach

The programmes are happening in Badradri Kothagudem district in Telangana, which means the warnings are aimed at families close to home. Students often carry what they learn in school back to their parents and siblings. A child who understands what to do when a fire starts can become a useful voice in a household that may otherwise be unprepared.

That is the logic behind the drive. Instead of waiting for an accident to make headlines, the fire department is trying to build habits before the fireworks are lit. The focus on students suggests officials see awareness as a first line of defence, not just a response tool.

What the report does not say

The official account does not list specific incident numbers, local fire statistics, or the exact technical steps demonstrated in each session. It also does not provide a full schedule beyond the November 3 and 4 dates, or details on which other institutions are part of the programme. Readers looking for those specifics will need to check with the local fire station or the district fire office.

What is clear is the direction of the effort. The department has chosen to speak to young people during the festival season, and it has tied the message to the most common Diwali risks: bursting firecrackers and handling a fire once it starts.

Why this matters right now

Festival fire risks do not wait for a convenient moment. The programmes are timed to the lead-up to and days around Diwali, when the risk is highest and when families are most likely to be handling fireworks at home. A few minutes of instruction in a school hall could shape how a household reacts in a moment of panic.

For parents, the takeaway is simple. Ask your children what they learned. Make sure the family knows where firecrackers will be lit, keep a clear path away from the area, and understand that a small fire can escalate quickly. For schools, the visit is a reminder that fire safety belongs in the same conversation as celebration.

The Kothagudem drive may be small in scale, but its message is direct. Fire does not need a big event to cause harm, and the people best placed to prevent it are often the ones who learn the lesson early.