DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) designed a specialised course to upgrade the skills of state fire service personnel. Throughout 2023-24, the CISF's prestigious Fire Service Training Institute (FSTI) in Hyderabad conducted 11 training batches, training 274 personnel from 113 cities.

The CISF, India's dedicated fire wing, has been the only Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) spearheading a nationwide fire training programme. During the CISF Raising Day 2023, the Union Home Minister in his address has tasked the CISF with training firefighters from 100 Indian cities.

This momentum continued into 2025 with the allocation of five additional batches. Four of these have already been completed, benefiting 106 participants from 46 cities across 10 states. The fifth session is scheduled to begin on August 25, 2025. To date, this vital programme has successfully trained 380 firefighters from a total of 150 cities across 22 States and Union Territories. The CISF is also ready to accommodate additional training slots in the 2025 calendar if states are willing to nominate their firefighters for the course.

The training curriculum is designed to focus on modern firefighting and rescue techniques, alongside crucial disaster management skills. Special emphasis is placed on addressing the complex challenges posed by dense urban environments and hazardous industrial areas. The programme covers advanced topics such as sophisticated fire response mechanisms, preparedness for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) emergencies and the handling of chemical warfare agents, reflecting the evolving nature of modern threats.

Sharing information in this regard a CISF spokesperson said that as the only CAPF with a dedicated Fire Wing, the CISF is committed to enhancing the technical skills of fire personnel and fostering a proactive culture for fire safety and disaster management preparedness.

(editor@dailyworld.in)