The post-independence period was when India relied on other nations for some essential services. Fire safety and other Disaster Management techniques are one of them.
We realized that there was no recognized institute for imparting training in the field of Fire Engineering and Fire Protection.
The government of India then set up a National Fire Service College in the year 1956 under the Ministry of Home Affairs by introducing various Training courses for serving fire service professionals and fresh candidates for Sub. Officer Course for induction in Fire services. But this did not prove sufficient as due to fast industrialization and rapid increase in Fire Hazards, the NFSC could not cope with the high rising demand for imparting professional training to the individuals at various levels.
The steadily increasing demand for professionally trained fire engineering personnel, along with the expanding responsibilities and workload of the National Fire Service College (NFSC), highlighted the necessity for additional specialised institutions to strengthen national preparedness and self-reliance in the fields of fire prevention, fire protection, and disaster management.
In response to this need, and on the recommendation of the Standing Fire Advisory Council (SFAC), the Institution of Fire Engineers (India) – IFE (India) was established in 1973 under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. The Institution was envisioned as a national-level professional body dedicated exclusively to the advancement of fire engineering education, training, standardisation, and professional competency across the country.
IFE (India) is committed to developing skilled and self-sufficient fire engineering professionals through structured academic programmes, professional examinations, and continuous capacity-building initiatives, enabling them to effectively manage fire, emergency, and disaster situations in urban, industrial, and infrastructure environments.
INSTITUTION OF FIRE ENGINEERS (INDIA) was brought into existence to encourage, assist and extend comprehensive knowledge on all matters relating to Fire Engineering. It aimed to provide a holistic platform to hold conferences, seminars, and open forums where persons with outstanding professional knowledge and experience in the field of fire services could be invited to investigate the solutions to current problems concerning fire engineering. Another aspect is evaluating the skills and knowledge attained by the candidate by conducting regular examinations and tests, oral or written to judge the competency and providing Certificate, Diploma, or Degree for the same which will add up to the professional qualification quotient for any individual.