FIRE SERVICES TO BE SPLIT INTO 'PROTECT' & 'PREVENT' WINGS

4.73L pensioners to benefit& ‘PREVENT’ WINGS Proposal to bifurcate fire services into ‘protection’ and ‘prevention’ wings will require three-fold rise in staff; AFES needs 2,430 firefighters against sanctioned strength of 880; of these, only 539 positions have been filled

- Brendan Dabhi

Following the establishment of a registry for private Fire Safety Officers (FSOs) with the authority to issue and renew Fire Safety Certificates (FSCs) in December 2023, the Gujarat government is now proposing a split of the Fire Services into two distinct wings: Prevention and Protection.

The Fire Safety Officer (FSO) system and its potential shortcomings, such as accountability and fee regulation, continue to cause concern among citizens and firefighters.

Now, the state envisions a Prevention Wing responsible for enforcing fire safety laws, conducting inspections, and managing FSC documentation. This would allow the remaining force to focus solely on firefighting. However, the plan was not well received by firefighting staff.

Blaze of discontent