Tamilnadu fire and Rescuse Services

The motto of the Department is “We Serve to Save” To achieve this motto, it is always our endeavour to go promptly to the spot of fire or other accidents, and strive to save life and property.

To endeavour to prevent fire accidents by spreading fire-safety awareness.

To rescue people affected by floods, earthquake or other natural calamities.

To provide standby fire-safety arrangements at large gatherings and important public and private functions by charging a nominal amount for the service rendered. The rates of charging can be seen in the section Hiring Charges.

To provide Ambulance-service for rushing the sick and the injured to hospital. Services specially requisitioned for this purpose are given at a nominal charge for the service rendered. The rates of charging can be seen in the section Hiring Charges.

To educate and train people in fire prevention and fire-fighting in order to reduce risk by fire.

To promote voluntarism in fire-prevention and fire-fighting by promoting the growth of the Safety Volunteers Organisation. Through this voluntarism, to make our Safety from Home Movement successful.

To strive for attainment of the highest peaks of professional excellence and, for this purpose, build up a climate conducive to exchange of experiences and discussions within the Department.

“Our aim is to make Tamil Nadu Fire and rescue Services the best in the world”

Duties & Functions

The Fire and Rescue Services Directorate plays a very vital role in the area of fire fighting and fire prevention. Properties worth crores of rupees are saved each year from the ravages of fire and scores of people have been rescued from fires. Apart from fire fighting, this department also undertakes rescue activities and has saved hundreds of people, marooned in floods, and caught in the debris of fallen buildings, road and rail accidents and other natural and man-made disasters.

Besides fire fighting and rescue operations, the Fire Service has statutory, regulatory and advisory functions also. Advisory functions relate to educating society on fire protection measures and helping to implement them. The statutory function is that of inspecting various premises to ensure that they conform to regulations in various Acts and Rules for fire safety.

Fire Prevention is an elementary function of Fire Service Department. In order to intensify fire prevention work, Fire Prevention Wings have been formed in 12 places in the state of Tamil Nadu. These Wings undertake propagation of fire prevention methods to the rural and urban population and address specified target groups so that risks by fire are minimized.

In order to prevent and deal with fire accidents in inaccessible slums in Chennai City, outposts are opened in such slums. These outposts are provided with high capacity Synthetic tanks to hold enough water and portable fire pumps with hoses and wireless sets and they are manned round the clock.

Ambulance services are available in 75 Fire and Rescue Services Stations and 1 at State Training Centre for training purpose. The sick and injured are swiftly removed to hospitals for immediate medical aid at reasonable hire charges. The poor are transported free of charge. The hire charges are collected with reference to the distance covered by the Ambulances.

Fire Service vehicles are utilized for bandobust and standby arrangements during festivals and large gatherings.

Major Functions – Statutory And Non Statutory

The Fire and Rescue Services Department in Tamil Nadu is a Service Department whose functions are varied and substantial. Besides the SERVICE function, it has STATUTORY, REGULATORY AND ADVISORY functions also.

On the Service side, the prime concern of the Department is to save lives and property from the danger, damage and destruction caused by fire. Besides fire fighting and helping to prevent fires, the other service functions of the department include offering emergency relief and rescue measures to victims not only of fire, but also of all types of natural and other calamities and mishaps such as floods, cyclones, landslides, building collapses, explosive accidents, railway accidents, major disasters, etc. Further, it assists the Police Department during elections, riots, fairs and festivals, in providing VIP bandobust and also assists the Public Health Department in times of epidemics. The ambulance services available with the Department are used to transport the sick and injured to hospitals for medical aid and treatment.

The Department also provides advice on fire protection measures for high-rise buildings, factories, places of public resort and fairs and festivals.

The Department also has a statutory role in inspection of various buildings as provided for under the Fire Service Act and Rules.

Inspection Services

The Tamil Nadu Fire Service undertakes inspection of Buildings, both Government and Private to check-up the fire fighting arrangements and to suggest fire fighting measures and fire safety. It also undertakes inspection of Cinema Halls in the State and heads a committee of officials drawn from several departments for this purpose.

For assistance in this regard please contact:

Director of Fire and Rescue Services,
12, Rukmani Lakshmipathy Road,
Egmore, Chennai -600 008
Phone : 28554156  Fax : 28550931

Organizational Setup

One Director (Head of the Department – at Chennai)

One Joint Director, (Training and Rescue) at State Training Centre, Tambaram, Chennai

Five Deputy Directors (at Chennai, Vellore, Thiruchirapalli, Coimbatore and Madurai)

Thirty Divisional Officers (at all District Headquarters) and One Divisional Officer at State Training Centre, Tambaram, Chennai

Staff Strength | Fire Station List | Recuriment Details

Traning Facilities

A fully modern Training centre is situated near Tambaram in Chennai, which is on par with the National Fire Service College at Nagpur. Built at a cost of over Rs.4.00 Crores.

The training centre has all the latest training facilities including dormitories, mess etc. It can train about 100 persons at a time. Training is being imparted to the personnel of this Department as well as Fire Service personnel from other States and to persons in Public Sector Undertakings. Training programme will also be held for training members of the general public.

To avail the services of this facility, please get in touch with

Director (Course),
State Training Centre,
Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services,
No. 100, G.S. T. Road, (Near Sanatorium),
Tambaram, Chennai-47
Phone : 044 – 22418025

Communication Wing

The Fire Tenders of the Department are fitted with VHF sets so as to be in touch with the Control Room and reach the scene of fire quickly. All the District Head Quarters are linked to the State Head Quarters by HF sets. WalkieTalkie sets are also available. There is a separate Communication Wing headed by an Assistant Divisional Fire Officer to take care of the communication requirement.

Staff Welfare

The Government is committed to the welfare of its personnel. There is a fund called the Tamil Nadu Fire Service Benevolent Fund from which money is given to the persons needing them. Family Benefit Scheme and Group Insurance Scheme is also available to those who sustain injuries during fire fighting and other operations. A sum of Rs.1,00,000 is given to those who die in action and employment is also given to the members of the family on compassionate grounds if an employee happens to die in harness. Food articles are given at subsidised rates to the members of the force.

Awards

In recognition to the services rendered by the Fire Service Personnel, following awards are given every year :

State Awards:

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Fire Service Medal ( Anna Medal).

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Fire Service Medal ( Pongal Medal).

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Fire Service Medal for Gallantry.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Fire Service Medal for Excellence.

Government of India Awards:

Fire Service Medal for Meritorious / Distinguished Service on the occasion of the Independence Day.

Fire Service Medal For Gallantry.

Fire Service Medal for Meritorious Service / Distinguished Service on the occasion of Republic Day.

Fire Service Day (14th April)

In memory of the 66 firemen who laid down their lives, 14th of April each year is celebrated, all over the country as Fire Service Day. A commemoration parade is held in which the names of all firemen who laid down their lives in the cause of duty is read out and wreaths are laid at the memorial column.

There was a terrible explosion on 14th April 1944 at Mumbai in a ship called “SS Port Stikins” which was berthed at No.1 Victoria Dock.. The ship was stocked with a huge cargo of explosives. There was nearly 1200 tons of explosives, cotton bales and oil drums. The destruction caused by the explosion was massive. Prince’s Dock and Victoria Dock which are two of the three principal docks were fully ablaze with drifting ships. The approach channels to the docks were obstructed with many things. Besides the docks several buildings on the shore were completely shattered. There was wide spread devastation to the roads and rail network. Fire were continuously raging caused by incendiary materials flying off from the burning ship. There was a huge loss of life and property. In all 231 personnel belonging to the various departments including 66 belonging to the Bombay Fire Brigade, were either killed or missing. 476 personnel are reported to have been injured.

The explosion was so massive that a ship berthed in an adjacent dock, 400 feet long and weighing 4000 tons was lifted clear to a height of 50 feet and dropped on land. All the buildings in the Port Trust were on fire. An area of about 100 acres was completely burnt. Bulk grain stores continued to burn and smoulder for four months. There was so much debris that it took three months to clear the same.

The authorities decided to prevent further damage to Mumbai City by creating a ‘Fire Lane’ by dynamiting through the centre of the city. Though the portion on one side of the fire land was completely destroyed, the other portion remained in tact. Even though the fire burned for weeks it did not cross the ‘ Fire Lane”. Thus Mumbai was saved.

Equipments

The Department has a good collection of Modern equipments to deal with emergencies.
The Vehicle fleet consists of:

Water Tenders …………………………………………….       326
Ambulances…………………………………………….            80
Small Foam Tenders ………………………………………….    13
Emergency Rescue Tenders……………………………………     5
Hydraulic Platform (Simon Snorkel of England)……………………..  1
Turn Table Ladder (Izuzu Morita from Japan)……………………..   1
Hydraulic Platform-cum-Turn Table Ladder 37 metre and 42 metre of Bronto Skylift from Finland ………………………………………….   2
Hose-Laying Tender ………………………………………….   1
Water Lorries ………………………………………….   51
Wrecker ……………………………………….   1
Mobile Repair Vans ………………………………………….  2
High Range Portable pumps ………………………………………….  228
Floto Pumps ………………………………………….  93
Bus, Motorcycles, Car and Jeep fitted with Wireless sets. ……………… 60

The Department also is in possession of Modern gadgets like Water Sprinklers, lifting bags, Smoke Exhausters, Poisonous gas Detectors, Generators, Breathing Apparatus sets with air compressors and other Combi-tools of aid in rescue operations, besides
Mechanised Fibre Boats ………………………………………….  3
Helmet Type Thermal Imaging Camera ………………………..  1
Hand-Held Thermal Imaging Camera…………………………….   2
Life Detectors ………………………………………….  2
Multi-Gas Monitors ………………………………………….  2

Accessing Fire Service (Free Service):

The Fire Service can be contacted on telephone regarding fire accidents and for rescue of people / animals caught in distress situation. A mere phone call giving proper address and details of the emergency will do.

Fire Control Room No. : 101 (Select Cities)
Ambulance Service No. : 102 (Only in Chennai City)
All other Fire Stations have direct telephone facilities.

Fire Prevention:

The prime concern of the Fire Service is to promote safe fire practices and to prevent the occurrence of fire accidents. The Department meets various people in groups and conducts demonstrations, lectures, etc. Those desirous of calling for this facility may approach the following officers to arrange the session for their benefit :

The Divisional Fire Officer in the District Head Quarters (or)
The Director of Fire and Rescue Services in Chennai

State and District Officers Address :

Northern Region