Towering INferno: Firemen trying to douse flames

A raging fire claims the life of a 38-year-old man at his home. The regional fire department is dispatched to the scene around 11:45 a.m., with assistance pouring in from other fire departments. Fifteen tankers are instantly on the scene since no fire hydrants were there at the site of the fire. It takes firefighters almost five hours to battle the blaze, fanned by high winds.

This is a typical situation that a fire engineer has to contend with on a regular basis. Therefore, a fire engineer?s job is to prevent fires as well as save life and property.

When there are instances of accidents, fire engineers are also called upon to assess the extent of the damage, investigate and identify the cause of the fire, the efficiency of the equipment installed where the fire broke out as well as suggest possible fire- prevention safety measures to be installed in the future so that the chances of such accidents recurring are negated or, at least, minimised.

What do i have to do?

Fire engineering is the art and science of designing buildings and facilities for safety and property protection in the event of a fire.

It essentially involves the application of scientific and engineering principles, based on an understanding of the phenomena and effects of the fire and takes into account the reaction and behaviour of people at the scene and the impact of the fire on the environment. Fire engineers also assess the condition of the fire protection systems including detection, alarm and sprinkler systems.

This is definitely a hazardous profession, and requires a strong sense of commitment to the cause of public service.

The role of fire engineers spans from conceptualising engineering designs to operations and management. They are also responsible for determining the causes of fire as well as suggesting methods of fire prevention.

Fire engineering inspectors also have the added responsibility of ensuring that all new constructions are done keeping in mind that no life safety features are missed.

It is also imperative for them to know the functions of all the safety equipment so that minimum time is wasted in trying to control the fire.

This profession demands a high level of technical knowledge and expertise as well as careful and quick understanding of the situation at hand.

Fire engineers also learn how to handle chemicals and other hazardous substances that they may encounter in the event of industrial accidents.

What should i study?

For a BTech in fire engineering, you need to pass 10 + 2 or its equivalent with papers in physics, chemistry and mathematics.

There are also certificate and diploma courses available in fire engineering which are offered by private institutes.

The eligibility for this is either SSLC or completing Plus Two levels successfully. You should also possess ample physical agility, presence of mind, quick reflexes, rigorous self-discipline, a strong sense of responsibility and oodles of leadership qualities as well as the ability to display it in emergencies while retaining composure.

What next?

Fire engineers have employment opportunities in large manufacturing organisations, particularly in petroleum refineries, petrochemicals and plastic industries, fertilisers, textiles, LPG and LNG handling and bottling plants, chemicals and other plants where there are risks of fire or chances of industrial accidents occurring.

Fire departments of government bodies, insurance companies, architectural and designing firms, project management companies, aircraft industry, industrial processing plants also employ them.

They may get jobs in any other industry or company where the possibility of fire or combustion presents a hazard. In fact, they may also find employment as surveyors and inspectors in numerous insurance companies.

WheRE TO sTUDY

• Indian Institute of Fire Engineering Iqbal Manzil, Nagpur

• National Fire Service College, Nagpur

• International Institute of Fire Engineering, Safety and Security Management, Pune

• MAEER’s Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Kothrud, Pune,

• National Institute of Fire Management, Chennai