NEW DELHI: From master’s degree holders to
BTech
graduates and from BEd holders to polytechnic graduates, they are all ready to battle the blaze.
As many as 47 master’s degree holders, 30 BEd holders, 15 from
polytechnics
and 13 with engineering background were among the 371 new firefighters who joined
Delhi Fire Service
(
DFS
) on Tuesday. The new firefighters will undergo six months of training at various centres before joining their designated fire stations. They were recruited through one of the largest recruitment drives held by the fire department in the past five years.
The new recruits also included 153 BA graduates, 44 individuals who have completed Industrial Training Institute (ITI) courses, and 24 BSc graduates. Some of them hold degrees such as MBA, BCA, Mass Communication and LLB. According to the fire department, this is the first time so many skilled professionals have joined DFS.
A senior fire department officer outlined the training module for the new recruits. It will begin with introductory classes about the department itself, followed by a deep dive into the science of fire and the elements that cause it. The recruits will also learn how to break through locked structures and master the latest firefighting equipment. “The training will focus primarily on residential fires which account for more than 60% of fire-related casualties,” another officer said. They will be trained at the Narela centre.
Currently, the fire department has approximately 2,300 personnel.
The 29-year-old Deepak Yadav, an MCA graduate, said that his uncle Madan Singh, currently stationed at Najafgarh fire station, inspired him to join the fire department. Yadav earlier worked as a senior executive at a private firm and also tutored children. He finds the job of firefighting adventurous and just cannot wait for his first operation.
The 28-year-old Chirag, a BTech graduate, said the firefighting would be a challenge from him for which he was excited. He also plans to crack high-level DFS exams.
Another firefighter said he wanted to serve society through this job.
Atul Garg, director of DFS, said that these recruits would significantly bolster the department’s capabilities. “This is the largest and most-qualified batch ever recruited by DFS. Their educational backgrounds will be invaluable in both responding to emergencies and implementing new technologies within the department,” he added.
The data shared by the department reveals that DFS received 15,610 fire-related calls last year. While a total of 59 people died, 689 were rescued.
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