It includes understanding the behaviour of fires and smoke, the behaviour of people exposed to fires and the performance of burning buildings, as well as the impact of fire protection systems including detection, fire fighting equipment, alarm and sprinkler systems.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, in 1950, recommended the setting up of a National College to impart training in Fire safety engineering in order to improve the Indian Fire Services. The National Fire Service College was started in 1955 at Rampur and shifted to its present location, Nagpur in 1957.

The College trains personnel of different Fire Brigades in all spheres of Fire Engineering including Fire Prevention, Fire Protection and Fire Fighting. BE (Fire Engineering) course under the affiliation of Nagpur University was introduced in 1978. The admission to this course is done through All India Entrance Examination conducted at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Nagpur every year.

Work

A fire engineer instructs and aids organisations in guarding against fire hazards by designing, recommending materials or equipment, alarm systems, fire extinguishers; and giving advice on location, handling and maintenance of such devices. They are also called in case of accidents where they try to determine the cause of the fire and methods of control.

Job Opportunities

With the government's decision to make safety officers compulsory in industry, the demand for these professionals has increased. Managers are realising their responsibility to provide a safe and healthy work place for their employees. A range of careers is available in this field. Fresh graduates can work in the area of fire insurance. Industries involved in the manufacture of fire safety equipment, fire detection, gas-monitoring equipment, smoke control systems etc.

Fire engineers are employed with the fire prevention departments in large companies and fire brigades.

The information technology boom has the potential to change the way in which fire engineering, safety and security management personnel function at the work place. Breakthroughs in sensors, information processing and interpretation, communication and visualisation can make huge amounts of information available to the individual.

Eligibility

The National Fire Service College offers post-service training by conducting professional courses and pre-service training - B.E (Fire Engineering). In addition to this some specialised professional courses or conducted by this college. The total number of students trained so far is 11,587 and the total intake per year is about 250.

The eligibility requirement for taking up the BE course is a BSc degree with Chemistry and either Physics or Maths or both as optional subjects. The duration of the training is 3 years and 6 months.

The following courses are also conducted at this college regularly.

A) Sub-Officer's Course (25 weeks)
B) Station-Officer's & Instructor's Course (25 weeks)
C) Divisional Officer's Course (2 weeks)
D) Fire Prevention Course (6 weeks)
E) Breathing Apparatus course (12 working days)
F) B.E. (Fire) Course (3 & 1/2 years)

For further information write to: nfsc@nagpur.dot.net.in

Attributes

Presence of mind, should be prepared to take risks, good stamina, organisational skills, team spirit

Educational Institutions

All India Institute of Local Self Government
Nehru Bhavan, Rajmahal, Vadodara-390000

MAEER's Maharashtra Institute of Technology
124, Paud Road, Kothrud, Pune-411038

National Fire Service College
Civil Lines, Nagpur

International Institute of Fire Engineering, Safety and Security Management (IIFESSM)
Technical Consultancy Services,
Pune