Plan to train firefighters in scuba diving, 12 other specialised skills

Bhubaneswar: To expand the expertise of fire service personnel beyond their primary role, the govt has decided to equip them with specialised skills in multiple domains, including scuba diving, underwater missions and structural collapse response, among others.

"We want to introduce firefighting transformation programmes, where our personnel will be trained in and outside the state to handle much more than just flames. We want to make them new-age firefighters. For their skill enhancements, we have issued a circular, asking them to choose their areas of interest and specialisation out of total 13 domains," director general (fire & emergency service), Sudhansu Sarangi, told TOI.

The specialised training courses include chemical-biological-radiological emergency, scuba diving, urban search and rescue, fire prevention, building intervention, accident response, advance equipment, K9 (dog squad handling), first aid, air operation, firefight trainer, command centre specialist and forest fire.

Sarangi emphasised that specialisation has become essential due to advancing technology and emerging challenges. According to Sarangi, firefighters need enhanced capabilities for conducting rescue operations during various catastrophes, whether they are natural, chemical-based or human-induced.

"The personnel require training to extract individuals from sophisticated vehicles and trains involved in accidents. It necessitates learning specific techniques from automotive and railway engineers about dismantling vehicle and train structures," Sarangi said.

The management of K9 dog units demands particular expertise, especially during post-disaster search operations. In Dec last year, the fire and emergency service created a K9 squad consisting of seven Labradors and three Belgian Shepherds.

"Additionally, with the acquisition of advanced firefighting equipment, staff need specific training to operate the sophisticated machines effectively. Personnel must acquire precise techniques for extracting victims from collapsed structures with coordinated movements. They will also be trained on proper procedures for managing chemical spillages and radiation incidents," DIG (fire service), Uma Shankar Dash, said.

The specialised training courses are scheduled to commence in June-July. Upon completion, participants will receive distinctive badges signifying their specialisation.

"The nature of emergencies has evolved. Urban development, industrial growth and climate change have brought new challenges. We need firefighters who can respond to any crisis. They will be prepared from traditional firefighters to comprehensive emergency rescue specialists," Dash said.