HISTORY OF NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE COLLEGE
The development of Fire Services in India was to a large extent influenced by India’s political and historical association with Britain till the Second World War (1939-1945). At the outbreak of war in 1939, there were innumerable Fire Authorities in Britain which were heterogeneous and ill-equipped to function as a National Force-so vital for the war effort. A hurried attempt was made to fuse them into an integrated National Organization-the National Fire Service-which, in spite of all handicaps did commendable work and helped to maintain the British morale at a high pitch throughout the duration of war. After the war was over, the responsibility for the administration of the Fire Services reverted to the Local Bodies because of a promise made by the Home Secretary at the time of constituting the National Fire Service. The lessons learnt during the war were, however, not wasted. The number of Fire Authorities was drastically reduced, making each a viable one, and the British Home Office established an Inspectorate of Fire Services, evidently with a view to ensure standardization of equipment, brigade procedures, uniform, ranks and training and to ensure better coordination and cooperation among them.
India did not have a National Fire Service during the war. In consequence, the Fire Brigades retained their heterogeneous character and the majority of them continued to remain ill-equipped at the end of the war. They had an added handicap of having to depend entirely upon imported equipment. The Government of India was fully conscious of this and was keen to bring about all possible improvements. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, therefore set up an “Expert Committee” in 1950. This was a good beginning indeed. The Government of India communicated their decision on the recommendation of the Expert Committee-1950 to all State Governments and Central Ministries vide Ministry of Home Affairs Letter No. 33/50-CD, dated the 5th January, 1952 and accepted the recommendations as follows:
- The Government of India noted that practically all State Governments agreed on the point that provincialisation of Fire Services is sound in principle and should be the ultimate goal.
- The Government of India, however, felt that the administration of Fire Services is part of the responsibilities of Local Bodies, and a departure from the normal principle of decentralization of responsibilities and duties would be justified in a matter of this nature only where Municipal authorities are found to be unable, in spite of every reasonable effort, to provide firefighting facilities on a scale which the State Government consider necessary and are in a position to provide themselves. If state Governments have the authority to enforce the recruitment by Local Bodies of only trained personnel (e.g. persons trained at the proposed Central Institution) and also have the power of inspection, then efficiency can be increased even without provincialisation of Fire Services.
- The Government of India also accepts in principle the recommendation of the Expert Committee that there should be a uniform Fire Legislation in all States (subject to such modifications as local circumstances any require). For this purpose they proposed to draw up a Model Bill in due course and obtain the views of the State Governments before it is given final shape. When finalized, copies of the Bill would be circulated to all State Governments with the recommendations to have the measure enacted by their respective legislatures.
- The Government of India accepts this recommendation except as regards the formation of an All India Fire Service, as they feel that apart from other difficulties, the cadre would be too small to function efficiently.
- While the Government of India is unable to accept this recommendation of the Expert Committee, they fell that State Governments should make arrangements for the regular inspection of the firefighting organizations within their States so as to ensure that maintenance of satisfactory standards. The Government of India on their part will also take steps in due course to give suitable advice and suggest standards in this regard.
- The Government of India agree in principle that the provincialized Fire Services, where they exist should work directly under Government (whether in the Home or the L.S.G. Department) and not under the Inspector General of Police.
- While communicating their decisions, the Government of India also requested the State Governments to take suitable steps to give effect to the recommendations.
- The selection of a suitable site for the setting up of necessary facilities for the central training institution, procurement of necessary equipment and training aids, appointment of instructors and other staff and preparation of the basic training material took some time.
- Finally, the institution started functioning in July, 1956 at Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, under the name of “The National Fire Service College” under Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Later, it was shifted to its present site at Nagpur, in Maharashtra, in June, 1957.