The CISF remains the only Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) with a dedicated fire wing, tasked with delivering nationwide fire safety training
India’s Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has significantly scaled up its national fire service training initiative, with 380 firefighters from 150 cities and 22 states and union territories trained so far. The programme, conducted at the CISF’s Fire Service Training Institute (FSTI) in Hyderabad, aims to strengthen local firefighting and disaster response capabilities amid growing urban and industrial risks.
Throughout 2023–24, the FSTI ran 11 training batches, enrolling 274 state fire service personnel from 113 cities. The momentum has carried into 2025, with five more batches allocated. Of these, four have been completed, training an additional 106 participants from 46 cities across 10 states. The next session is scheduled to begin on 25 August.
The CISF remains the only Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) with a dedicated fire wing, tasked with delivering nationwide fire safety training. The initiative was formally announced during CISF Raising Day 2023, when the Union Home Minister called on the force to train firefighters from at least 100 Indian cities.
According to the CISF, the training curriculum has been updated to reflect the growing complexity of modern emergency scenarios. Alongside conventional firefighting and rescue techniques, participants receive instruction in disaster management, urban fire risk mitigation, and preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents — including the handling of chemical warfare agents.
A CISF spokesperson said the programme reflects the force’s commitment to “enhancing the technical skills of fire personnel and fostering a proactive culture for fire safety and disaster management preparedness”. They added that the FSTI in Hyderabad, a state-of-the-art facility, serves not only CISF personnel but also members of national and international organisations.
With growing interest from state fire departments, the CISF has expressed readiness to accommodate additional training slots through 2025, as it continues to expand its partnerships with regional services.
The initiative arrives at a time when urban congestion, industrial expansion and the threat of chemical emergencies are increasingly shaping India’s emergency preparedness agenda.
