Nagpur Firefighters: The Untold Story of a Century-Long Fight in Vidarbha

thenewsdirt
Aug 7
7 min read

The city of Nagpur, strategically positioned at the geographical centre of India and serving as a major hub for the Vidarbha region, has witnessed the evolution of its fire services from a single British-era station to a comprehensive emergency response network.

The story of Nagpur's firefighters spans nearly a century, marked by periods of growth, decline, and renewed expansion that mirror the city's own transformation from a colonial administrative centre to a modern metropolitan area.

From Colonial Foundations to Independent Growth

The origins of organised firefighting in Nagpur trace back to 1927, when the British administration established the Ganjipeth Fire Station as the city's first dedicated fire service facility.

Built over a 1,700 square metre area, this pioneering station was strategically located to serve the densely populated areas of Mahal, Gandhibagh, and Mominpura.

The timing of its establishment proved prescient, coming just months before the communal riots of September 1927 that would test the city's emergency response capabilities.

The early decades following independence saw significant infrastructure development in Nagpur's fire safety systems. During the 1950s and early 1960s, the city boasted an impressive network of approximately 1,000 fire hydrants, representing one of the most comprehensive urban fire safety infrastructures in Central India.

This period marked the peak of Nagpur's fire preparedness, with the municipal authorities recognising the critical importance of accessible water sources for firefighting operations.

A pivotal moment in India's fire service history occurred in 1956-1957 when the National Fire Service College was established and subsequently relocated to Nagpur.

Originally founded in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, the institution found its permanent home in Nagpur, where it would grow to become the premier training centre for fire officers across the country.

The college's presence in Nagpur elevated the city's status as a centre of excellence in fire safety education and training, attracting personnel from across India and establishing the Vidarbha region as a hub for firefighting expertise.

The National Fire Service College expanded its academic offerings in 1978 by introducing the first Bachelor of Engineering course in Fire Engineering in India.

This groundbreaking programme, initially designed as a 3.5-year course, represented a significant advancement in the professionalisation of fire services. The course was later restructured in 2015 as a four-year Bachelor of Technology programme in Fire Engineering, affiliated with Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University and approved by the All India Council for Technical Education.

Infrastructure Decline and Modern Expansion

The optimism of the early post-independence years gradually gave way to a period of infrastructure decay that would characterise much of the late 20th century.

The extensive fire hydrant network that had once been Nagpur's pride began to deteriorate due to inadequate maintenance and bureaucratic challenges.

By the early 21st century, this network had collapsed dramatically, with only 29 hydrants remaining functional from the original 1,000, and eventually declining further to just nine operational hydrants by 2023.

The deterioration of basic infrastructure coincided with rapid urban expansion and changing building patterns that presented new challenges for fire safety.

Recognising these evolving needs, the Maharashtra government enacted the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act in 2006, providing a comprehensive legal framework for fire safety across the state. This legislation established mandatory fire safety requirements for buildings above certain heights and created mechanisms for enforcement and compliance monitoring.

The private sector's response to growing fire safety needs became evident with the establishment of companies like Sunil Fire Services in 1996, which began manufacturing and supplying firefighting equipment.

The emergence of private training institutions further expanded the region's capacity for fire safety education, with the National Academy of Fire and Safety Engineering (NAFS) being founded in 2008 and growing to operate over 200 centres across India.

The 21st century has witnessed both ambitious expansion plans and persistent operational challenges for Nagpur's fire services.

In 2015, municipal authorities proposed an ambitious plan to install fire hydrants at 116 locations across the city, recognising the critical infrastructure gap.

However, this initiative faced repeated setbacks, with tenders being floated eight times without receiving any responses from contractors, highlighting the complex procurement and implementation challenges facing public infrastructure projects.

A significant milestone was achieved in 2016 with the establishment of the Regional Fire Training Centre at Kalamna, which became the only municipal-run fire training institute in the entire Vidarbha region.

Spread across 10,883 square metres, this facility features a two-storey training complex with offices, dormitories, classrooms, and specialised equipment for practical training. The centre has trained over 14 batches in its operational years, producing hundreds of qualified firemen who now serve across Maharashtra and beyond.

The training centre's importance to the region became even more apparent with the addition of a state-of-the-art swimming pool in 2024, constructed at a cost of ₹1.39 crore. This facility, measuring 25 by 15 metres with depths ranging from 1 to 3 metres, significantly enhances water rescue training capabilities and physical conditioning for firefighters. The development represents a recognition of the diverse emergency scenarios that modern firefighters must be prepared to handle.

Current operational statistics reveal both the scope of Nagpur's fire services and the challenges they face. The department operates nine fire stations across the city, with plans to expand to 22 stations to better serve the growing urban area.

However, significant staffing shortages persist, with only 152 personnel currently serving against a sanctioned strength of 611 positions. This represents a manning level of less than 25 per cent, creating substantial operational pressures on existing staff.

Contemporary Operations and Performance

The 2024-25 operational year provides insight into the current scope and effectiveness of Nagpur's fire services.

The department responded to 808 fire incidents, categorised as 493 minor, 173 medium, and 143 major fires.

Beyond firefighting, the services handled an additional 680 emergency calls involving drowning cases, structural collapses, tree falls, gas leaks, animal rescues, and road accidents. These statistics underscore the evolution of fire services from purely firefighting organisations to comprehensive emergency response units.

The department's economic impact is substantial. During the year, property worth ₹71.24 crore was saved, while reported damages amounted to ₹24.51 crore. The department also generated ₹18.25 crore in revenue through fire safety certificates, inspection fees, and specialised services, demonstrating its role in emergency response and preventive fire safety measures.

Fire incidents in Nagpur show distinct patterns and emerging challenges. Civil Lines fire station, covering West Nagpur, consistently reports the highest number of incidents, accounting for 20.4 per cent of all fire calls between 2021 and 2024.

Property losses in this area have escalated dramatically, from ₹74.60 lakh in 2021 to ₹6.37 crore in the first ten months of 2024, reflecting both the intensity of fires and the high-value properties at risk.

A concerning trend has emerged in garbage fires, which increased by 78.8 per cent over three years, from 33 incidents in 2022 to 59 in 2024.

These fires, often occurring in residential areas and outskirts where dry waste and plastic materials are improperly disposed of, represent a growing challenge that requires coordinated efforts between fire services and waste management authorities.

The National Fire Service College's continued presence in Nagpur maintains the city's status as a centre of fire service excellence. The institution's new campus, spread across several acres at Raj Nagar, was dedicated to the nation in January 2020 by Home Minister Amit Shah.

This modern facility includes an administrative building, academic complex, auditorium, library, workshop, fire station, drill tower, and comprehensive residential facilities for both male and female candidates.

The college's impact extends far beyond Nagpur's boundaries, with regular courses training divisional officers, station officers, instructors, and sub-officers from across India.

Short-term specialised courses cover emerging areas such as disaster management, urban search and rescue, hazardous materials handling, and computational fluid dynamics.

International cooperation is evident through training programmes for firefighters from countries including Mauritius, Kenya, and Palestine.

Regional training capabilities have been further enhanced through the Maharashtra Fire Services' recognition of Kalamna as a regional training centre. This designation allows the facility to train personnel from across the Vidarbha region, reducing the need for candidates to travel to Mumbai, Pune, or Thane for certification.

The six-month residential training programme, conducted in two annual batches, provides comprehensive preparation for careers in fire services.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite significant achievements, Nagpur's fire services face substantial challenges that require sustained attention and investment.

The dramatic decline in fire hydrant infrastructure represents a critical vulnerability, particularly given the city's expansion and increasing building heights.

The proposed installation of a 70-metre hydraulic platform and procurement of 14 new fire tenders of varying capacities represent important progress, but these additions must be accompanied by adequate staffing and infrastructure support.

The staffing crisis, with less than one-quarter of sanctioned positions filled, poses serious operational risks and places unsustainable pressure on existing personnel. Plans to recruit 350 new personnel and promote staff from within the existing workforce offer hope for improvement, but implementation timelines and training requirements will be critical factors in their success.

The expansion from nine to 22 fire stations represents an ambitious infrastructure development programme that could significantly improve response times and coverage across Nagpur's 218 square kilometres.

However, each new station requires not only physical infrastructure but also adequately trained personnel, equipment, and ongoing operational support.

The story of Nagpur's firefighters reflects broader themes in Indian urban development and public service evolution. From the colonial-era establishment of basic fire protection to the current challenges of serving a rapidly growing metropolitan area, these dedicated professionals have adapted to changing circumstances while maintaining their core mission of protecting lives and property.

The presence of national-level training institutions and the development of regional training capabilities position Nagpur to continue its leadership role in fire safety education and emergency response throughout the Vidarbha region and beyond.

As Nagpur continues to grow and develop, the success of its fire services will depend on sustained investment in infrastructure, personnel, and training, coupled with effective coordination between municipal authorities, state government, and the various educational and training institutions that call the city home.

The century-long journey of Nagpur's firefighters demonstrates both the challenges and possibilities inherent in providing essential public safety services in one of India's most strategically important cities.