BENGAL FIRE SERVICES GET 226 NEW FIRE TENDERS, 1,400 PERSONNEL TO BE RECRUITED

September 24, 2026

KOLKATA: West Bengal has added 226 new firefighting vehicles to its Fire and Emergency Services Department, while the state government has announced the recruitment of 1,400 new personnel to strengthen the department.

The new fleet includes 198 mid-sized water tenders, each carrying 2,500 litres of water, 25 water tenders with a capacity of 6,000 litres and three articulating water towers capable of reaching heights of up to 36 metres. The vehicles were procured at a total cost of around ₹94 crore.

The three articulating water towers are expected to improve firefighting operations in high-rise buildings. The new vehicles will be distributed among fire stations across Bengal, particularly in densely populated areas, markets, industrial zones and other urban and semi-urban locations.

The government will recruit 1,000 fire operators, 325 fire engine operators-cum-drivers and 75 sub-officers through the Police Recruitment Board. Another 2,500 posts are also planned to be created in the Fire and Emergency Services Department over the next year.

The expansion comes amid efforts to strengthen Bengal's emergency-response infrastructure ahead of the Durga Puja season and following several recent fire incidents in Kolkata and other parts of the state.