National Fire Service Day 2023: Date, History, Significance, Messages, Causes

National Fire Service Day: This Day, commonly referred to as “MARTYR’S DAY,” is celebrated every year on April 14 in India in memory of the brave firefighters who lost their lives while performing their duties during the fire and massive explosion at the Mumbai dockyard on that date in 1944.

Notably, April 14 commemorated but not celebrated as National Fire Service Day.As we pay homage to the martyr and implement a public awareness campaign to avoid such situations in the future.

National Fire Service Day:

History of  National Fire Service Day

During World War II, the SS Fort Stikine freight transporting cotton balls, oil drums, gold, and tonnes of explosives (ammunition) halted overnight at Mumbai Victoria Dock. On April 14, 1944, the ship caught fire and collapsed in two large explosions that scattered debris, sank nearby ships, and started fires nearby, killing about 800 people.

• The sequence of events was described as follows:
• The cargo ship SS Fort Stikine departed Birkenhead on February 24, 1944. It arrived at Victoria Port in Mumbai on April 12, 1944, via Karachi.
• At approximately 2:00 p.m., the crew observed smoke on board and summoned the fire personnel to determine the fire’s origin and extinguish it.
• Due to the dense smoke, the quayside fire personnel and dock crews were unable to extinguish the fire and locate its origin.
• At 3:50 p.m., the full evacuation order was issued to all emergency responders because the situation had worsened. The fire was out of control, and the firefighters were unable to contain it.
• After the initial detonation, numerous firefighters were transported to a medical centre for treatment. However, the courageous firefighters did not give up the fight against the fire. When additional firefighters arrived, they continued to battle the blaze.
• Debris and combustibles spread the fire to the neighbourhoods and nearby structures. Eleven adjacent ships sank, and the fire engulfed approximately 2 square kilometres.
• Numerous first responders were killed at the scene, including approximately 66 firefighters.

Many people passed away outside the wharf area by falling shells and shells that burst on impact. The canals close to the quays became jammed with impediments, and a sizable piece of the land became completely destroyed. It took four days to extinguish the primary blaze, and for the next two weeks, smaller flames continued to rage throughout the ruins.

231 service men killed and 476 injured. Outside the docks, 2,408 people sustained injuries and more than 500 civilians perished. 13 ships perished and 50,000 tonnes of ships totalling 50,000 tonnes suffered significant damage.

The Conference of Indian Fire Chiefs advised the Ministry of Home Affairs to create the Standing Fire Services Advisory Committee (SFAC), a committee that eventually expanded to include representatives from all state governments, Union Territories, and other central ministries.

Sir M. Visvesvaraya Biography: Birthday, Early Life, Career, Awards, Recognition, Death Anniversary, Facts

Importance of Fire Service Week and National Fire Service Day

Every year on April 14, India observes National Service Day to remember the brave firefighters who gave their lives putting out flames. Even after the incident at the Mumbai dockyard on April 14, 1944. So many firefighters lose their lives each year while battling fires. On April 14, each year, these courageous firefighters honoured. To prevent such fire and explosion incidents. It is necessary to implement multiple fire safety awareness programmes for the general public, pupils, and the business sector.

Each year, the Directorate General Fire Services and Civil Defence publishes the theme for organising various fire safety programmes during the 14th to 20th of April observance of Fire Services Week in order to educate the public on the need to reduce fire-related losses.

To raise fire safety knowledge throughout the community, the DGFS also provides electronic mass printing and awareness materials that get duplicated as needed.

The programme for fire safety awareness may include

1. Fire prevention and protection training with demonstration

2. Contest for essays, slogans, and posters

Distribution of fire credentials

Utilisation of media and the Internet

5. Fire Service Day observed

6. Fire safety assessments

7. Public awareness campaign including school evacuation drills

8. Fire Mock exercises in industries

9. Hose, Hydrant, and Rescue Drills for Firefighters and Workers, etc.

Messages for National Fire Service Day:

Prepared flyers on national fire service day and distributed them via company mail to all users with year’s theme-related messages.

• Pining of Fire badge: Distributed badges for public awareness on fire service day.
• Opening meeting: The opening meeting starts with a greeting and the lighting of a lamp, then follows with the distribution of the fire service week agenda, and ends with a motivational lecture from senior fire and safety authorities.
• To honour the firefighters’ contributions to the nation on this day, flag hospitality planned.
• Fire Pledge/Oath: Following the flag-raising ceremony, everyone takes the fire safety pledge (attached).
• The oath that firefighters take ( )
• National Fire Protection Day is an affirmation for firefighters. Honouring the martyrs On National Fire Service Day, remember the martyrs, get in touch with their families, and tell everyone their tales so that the next generation remains motivated.
• Fire drill: A fire drill may qualify as organised during National Fire Service Week to increase fire safety awareness and assess emergency preparation.
• Firefighting instruction: Organise a fire fighting training programme where participants receive both practical and theoretical information on fighting fires in emergencies.
• Fire awareness sessions in the community: Organise fire awareness sessions in schools, colleges, hospitals, and other public places to raise public awareness.
• Fire protection inspections: Audits of fire safety in workplaces, schools, colleges, and other public buildings to identify firefighting-related deficiencies.
• Fireman pared: You can use fireman pared to understand team cohesion.
• Exercise with a ladder: Given the ladder’s critical role in obtaining access to high-rise fires during firefighting. A ladder drill could possibly, carried out to assess the emergency preparation of firefighters.