Kerala Fire And Rescue Services

There were separate Fire services in Travancore, Cochin and Malabar States before the formation of Kerala State. There were three fire stations in Travancore and Kochi and five fire stations in Malabar. These stations were under the control of Police Department. In 1949, the Fire Station of Travancore and Cochin states were joined together. In 1956, Malabar state was also included and thus the Kerala Fire Service came into being. From then onwards, the Inspector General of Police was the head of the Fire Service up to 1963. Fire services worked as part of the Police Department. As per the notification of The Kerala Government in 1962, Kerala Fire Force Act came into existence.

The Kerala Fire Force department started working as a separate department since 1963. Director of Civil Defence held the position of the Head of the Department till 1967. From 1967 to August 1970 an Inspector General of Police held the charge of the Director for Fire Force. In 1970 the Fire Force Department was brought under a separate Director. In 1982 the name of the Director of Fire Force was renamed as Commandant General, Home Guards, Civil Defence and Fire Force. Considering the rescue works under taken by this Department and significance in that area, this department had been renamed as Kerala Fire & Rescue Services in 2002. Now the Department is rendering its remarkable and commendable service through 119 Fire & Rescue Stations. In 2015 the name of the Commandant General was renamed as Director General, Fire and Rescue, Home Guards and Civil Defence. There are 14 District Offices (Assistant Divisional Offices in each Districts) and 5 Divisional Offices in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Palakkad and Kozhikode and one Assistant Divisional Officer in Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Academy. Motor Transport wing is established in Headquarters, Academy and five Divisional office. The Department is in a stage of modernisation and development so as to provide better service to the public in all emergency situations.

The head of the Department is the Director General (D.G.) who is the rank of the D.G.P., I.P.S. rank and under him there is a Director (Admn.) at the Headquarters, and a Director (Technical) at the Kerala Fire And Rescue Services Academy, Viyyur, Thrissur. There are six Regional Offices consisting of two or three districts, located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur where Regional Officers are in charge. Each district has a District Fire Office and under each District Fire Officer there are Fire & Rescue Stations where a Station Officer as the station in charge.

At each station, in addition to Station Officer there are Assistant Station Officers, Leading Firemen, Driver Mechanic, Firemen, Fireman Driver-cum Pump Operators. In addition to this, there is a full-fledged ministerial staff at Headquarters, Regional offices, viyyur Academy and District Offices.

• Rescue services
• Pumping services
• Ambulance services
• Awareness programs
• Security Checkup
• Training programs
• Mock drills

SCUBA training

Recruitment of personnel is based on statewide. The Kerala Public Service Commission is undertaking the recruitment procedure. Recruitment procedure includes written examination, physical test and medical test. Those who has selected has to undergo a training as specified. For imparting training to the employees and newly recruited Fireman, Fireman Driver cum Pump Operator and Driver Mechanic, Fire And Rescue Services Academy was started at Viyyur, Thrissur in 2007. The supervision of this Academy is held by the Director in the rank of Regional Fire Officer. Three District Fire Officers and Station Officer who have the charge of the training are also working in this Academy.

• Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Academy

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