Fire & Emergency Services, Govt. Of West Bengal

[Issued under clause (b) of sub-section (3) of section 3 of the Act)
WEST BENGAL FIRE SERVICES (DUTIES OF DIVISIONAL OFFICER, STATION OFFICER, SUB-OFFICER, LEADER, FIRE-ENGINE OPERATOR-CUM-DRIVER AND FIREMAN) REGULATIONS, 1968,

1. Short title: These regulations may be called the West Bengal Fire Services (Duties of Divisional Officer, Station Officer, Sub-Officer, Leader, Fire Engine Operator-cum-Driver and Fireman) Regulations, 1968.
2. General duties of the Station Officers and Sub-Officers in charge of a fire station: (1) The Station Officer and the Sub-Officer in charge of a fire station of the West Bengal Fire Services shall—
   1. Be available and hold themselves in readiness for any duty they may be called upon to perform by their superior officers at any time, and keep their superior officers acquainted with all matters coming to their knowledge, affecting their own fire station or the Fire Services Directorate in general;
   2. Obey implicitly all orders of their superior officers and exact the strictest obedience and civility from those serving under them; devote whole-hearted attention to their duties; and set an example to their men by sobriety, cleanliness, promptitude, civility and devotion to their duties;
   3. Take charge and be responsible for all appliances, stores, equipments, etc. issued to the fire station and submit a report to their superior officers as to the correctness or otherwise of such articles taken charge of. They shall submit a requisition to their superior officers tor the requirements of their fire station as and when necessary;
   4. See that all appliances and equipment are kept clean and in proper working order stowing them properly for immediate use in times of fires and other emergencies without loss of time;
   5. Instruct and drill all men under their charge in the use and main­ tenance of fire appliances and equipment;
   6. Hold a muster parade for the inspection of uniforms, clothings, boots and equipments at least once a month to see that the operational staff in the fire stations keep themselves and their clothings in clean and good condition and to report shortages, if any, to their superior officers. The inspection of uniforms and equipments shall be carried out periodically;
   7. Ensure that the roll is called at such time as their superior officer considers most suitable; but it shall be done compulsorily at the time of change over of duties;
   8. Carry out surprise turn outs at odd hours at least once a month to ensure prompt attendance of staff and prompt availability of fire appliances;
   9. Ensure that the fire station time clock is checked with the clock or time signal at least twice a day at proper intervals;
   10. See that the men placed on fire station and sentry duties are properly dressed and are acquainted with their duties;
   11. See that the communication system is in proper Working order, and send an immediate report to appropriate authority in case of any defect or failure;
   12. Keep themselves and other staff on duty in readiness at all times to receive superior officers and give, if required, an accurate account of all matters connected with the station under their charge;
   13. See that the fire pumps in the fire station which have not otherwise worked during a week have water passed through them at least once every week;
   14. Report at once to the superior officer and the police any damage or casualty that may have occurred as a result of accident;
   15. Keep themselves and their staff acquainted with the water supply within the area under their charge. In cases where fire hydrants, fire alarm, underground reservoirs, fire fighting tubewells are provided, it shall be their duty to examine, with the help of their staff, those hydrants and water supply arrangements falling within their jurisdiction periodically as may be fixed from time to time;
   16. Keep themselves and their staff acquainted with the network of communication system as may be existing in the service;
   17. Keep themselves and their staff acquainted as far as possible with the topography of their own and adjoining areas, as well as fire risks in such areas;
   18. Maintain all Registers, Log Books. Occurrence B?oks, Attendance Rolls, etc., up-to-date and submit all returns and statements including pay rolls of their staff to their superior officers every month. All fire and special services reports shall be submitted by them within 48 hours of the occurrence, Sundays and holidays being excepted;
   19. Be responsible to see that the standard tests (weekly, monthly, etc.) of all fire equipments, appliances, vehicles, hose, etc., in the station are carried out as prescribed, and that entries are made in the Station Occurrence Book and Log Book, etc.
       1. 1. It shall be the duty of the Station Officer in charge of a fire station or, if the Station Officer is absent from duty, the Sub-Officer in charge of the fire station for the time being, to receive, from the Divisional Officer of his Division on the first working day of any month, or any subsequent day on which payment may be made by the latter, pay and allowances of the officers and personnel of the fire station in his charge for the preceding month, and to disburse the amount to those officers and personnel according to the acquittance rolls prepared by the Accountant cf the Divisional Office. For the amount received by him from the Divisional Officer, he shall give a receipt. Any amount not disbursed during the day shall be returned to the Divisional Officer:

Provided that the Station Officer or the Sub-Officer disbursing the pay will be relieved of operational duties during the time taken for disbursement. The Divisional Officer concerned should so arrange that on the pay day the Station Officer or the Sub-Officer in charge of a fire station is assisted by another officer competent to take charge of a fire incident on call.

1. (a)   In case of a fire station having a Station Officer and a Sub-Officer, the former shall be in charge of the station and the latter shall assist him in carrying out the abovementioned duties.

(b) In the absence of the Station Officer, the Sub-Officer shall be in charge of a fire station.

1. General duties of a Leader: The Leader of a fire brigade of the West Bengal Fire Services shall—
   1. Be available at the fire station, to which he is posted, while on duty;
   2. Obey implicitly all orders of his superior officers and exact the strictest obedience and civility from those serving under him;
   3. See that the men placed under him on duty are properly dressed and are assigned duties pertaining to the lire station, and fire appliances, and such other duties that may be incidental to the efficient working of the fire station. He shall also be responsible for maintaining the fire station premises clean and tidy and appliances and equipment in neat and efficient working condition, and ready for immediate use;
   4. See that all equipment, gears, etc. are properly accounted for and be responsible for the same when in charge of fire appliances or equipments. In case of any loss or damage of articles or equip­ment, uniform, clothing, etc., he shall immediately report this to his next senior officer about the same;
   5. Keep his superior officers acquainted with all matters coming to his knowledge affecting the fire station staff or the Fire Services Directorate in general;
   6. Be responsible for keeping the fire station premises, such as, appliance rooms, offices, drill yard, watch rooms, workshop, dormitory, drill tower, hose drying tower, etc., neat and clean by washing, when necessary, and keeping appliances, equipment, gears, etc. clean and tidy;
   7. Keep himself alert to attend to fires, special services like rescue jobs, stand-by duties at exhibitions, fairs, puja pandals, pumping out water from water-logged areas, tanks or ditches, destroying films, fire drills, and removing overhead signboards constituting public danger etc., in the shortest possible time on the alarm being sounded, and to carry out any order given by an officer in this connection to perform the work promptly;
   8. Thoroughly inspect the fire appliances to which he is posted and report to the Officer-in-Charge of the fire station of having verified the same. The Leaders are jointly and severally responsible to the Officer-in-Charge of the fire station for the appearances, scrupulous cleanliness of vehicles, polishing arid painting of equip­ment, appliances and vehicles, proper cleaning of the hoses, floors, walls, doors and windows of the premises, garages and drill towers, and smoke chamber.

Leaders and other ranks accommodated in barracks or dormitory shall be solely responsible for the proper cleanliness and orderly arrangement of their personal belongings. They will also be held responsible for the safety of the various fixtures, sanitary and electrical fittings in such premises;

1. 1. Carry out any duty when ordered by an officer on the fire ground, to efficiently and promptly extinguish the fire or to perform any rescue work;
   2. Check up that the wheels and undercarriages of the fire appliances and vehicles are properly cleaned and are in a fit condition and also to help the Fire Engine Operator-cum-Driver in servicing duty mentioned in items (vi) and (vii) of the Explanation to clause (h) of regulation 4;
   3. Perform round duties at night to pay surprise checks on the sentry, fire station properties and guard rooms and report any discrepancy immediately to the control room and to the officer on duty;
   4. Show proper respect to all officers of the fire station by saluting when on parades and drills and otherwise when called during his duty period by coming to attention;
   5. Perform parade and drills as per scheduled routine or such other drills as may be ordered by the Officer-in-Charge and to attend all kinds of authorised demonstration relating to fire service, in and outside fire station;
   6. Remain in proper uniform during his duty hours. Both the out-going and incoming batches will have to fall in during charge-over of duties, in proper uniform.
   7. Assist the Fireman in loading and unloading of petrol containers on and from vehicles at the fire station, scene of fire, places of duty at exhibitions, fairs, etc. and also places cf storage.
2. General duties of a Fire Engine Operator-cum-Drivcr: The Fire Engine Operator-cum-Driver of a Fire Brigade of the West Bengal Fire Services shall—
   1. be available at the fire station, to which he is posted, while on duty;
   2. Obey implicitly all or.ders of his superior officers and exact the strictest obedience and civility from those serving under him, if any;
   3. Be responsibile for the proper upkeep and mechanical condition, maintenance of the vehicles and pumps under his charge;
   4. Start at least twice a day or as may be directed by his superior officers the fire appliances and other vehicles in his charge and check petrol, oil, lubricant, radiator water level, lights, brake, etc. to make sure that the same are in serviceable condition and report the same to the officer on fire station duty, and report any defect immediately that he may come across to the officer on station duty;
   5. Keep an inventory of all articles aad equipment under his charge and maintain a record of time at work, mileage, petrol and oil consumption, etc.;
   6. Attend minor defects of appliances and vehicles on fire station level without sending to workshop;
   7. Be physically present and render all help to the machanics while any repair to appliances or vehicles is done in the station;
   8. Do ‘servicing’ of the under-carriages and engines of the appliances andvehicles on a working day to be  decided by the Officer-in-Charge for their proper upkeep and maintenance and also pour petrol in the tanks of the vehicles at the fire stations and assist the Firemen in loading and unloading of petrol containers on and from vehicles at the scene of fire or places of duty at exhibitions, fairs, etc.

Explanation: ‘Servicing’ means—

1. Thorough cleaning of engines of appliances and vehicles including pumpside;
2. Pouring of engine oil and lubricants in the engine and pumps;
3. Thorough cleaning of the under-carriage with the help of kerosene oil and by scraping the sticky oily coatings of the under-carriage after washing of the under-carriage is done;
4. Application of one coat of anti-corrosive paint, graphite, etc. as and when required or ordered by superior officer;
5. Thorough cleaning and lubrication of grease and oil nipples;
6. Removal of the wheels, sand-papering of corrosions, repainting and refixing;
7. Proper maintenance and upkeep of batteries;
   1. Perform parade and drills as per scheduled routine or such other drills as may be ordered by the Officer-in-Charge and attend all kinds of authorised demonstration relating to fire service, in and outside the fire station;
   2. Remain in proper uniform during his duty hours. Both the outgoing and incoming batches will have to fall-in during change-over of duties, in proper uniform;
   3. Carry out any other duties relating to the maintenance, mobility and operation of fire appliances, motor vehicles, pumps or other fire-fighting and rescue gears as may be ordered by his superior officer;
   4. Show proper respect to all officers of the station by saluting when on parades and drills and otherwise when called during his duty period by coming to attention; and
   5. Maintain a Car Diary, in the form shown in the schedule annexed, for each motor vehicle/ engine/pump in his charge.
8. General duties of a Fireman: (1) The Fireman of Fire Brigade of the West Bengal Fire Services shall-—
   1. Be available at the fire station, to which he is posted, while on duty;
   2. Obey implicitly all orders of his superior officers and hold himself in readiness to carry out all duties as may be assigned to him by his superior officers promptly and efficiently;
   3. Keep himself and his quarters, if provided, neat and clean;
   4. Devote whole-hearted attention to his duties;
   5. Set examples to others by sobriety, cleanliness, promptitude, civility and devotion to duties;
   6. Be responsible for keeping the fire station premises, such as, appliance rooms, offices, drill yard, watch rooms, workshops, dormitory, drill tower, hose drying tower, etc. neat and clean by washing when necessary, and keep the appliances, equipment, gears, etc. clear and tidy;
   7. Be alert and keep himself in readiness to attend to fires, special services like rescue jobs, stand-by duties at exhibitions, fairs, puja panda'.s, pumping out water from water-logged areas, tanks or ditches, destroying films, fire drills, removing overhead signboards constituting public danger, etc. in the shortest possible time on alarm being sounded, and carry out any orders given by an officer in this connection to perform the work promptly;
   8. Keep himself acquainted with topography of his own and adjoining areas as well as fire risk in such areas;
   9. Carry out duties that may be assigned to him from time to time, and be responsible jointly and severally to the Leaders of the Fire Unit for the care, appearance and scrupulous cleanliness of the Unit and all equipment, correct upkeep, storage and maintenance thereof;
   10. Carry out proper maintenance and handling of equipments and gears of the vehicles, perform guard duties, workshop duties, control room and watch room duties, fire station officer's officc duty and despatch messenger's duty;
   11. Thoroughly inspect the fire appliances for his work and to report to the Leader of having verified the same. The Firemen are jointly and severally responsible to the Leaders of the Unit for the appearance and scrupulous cleanliness of vehicles, polishing and painting of equipments, appliances and vehicles, proper cleaning of the hoses, floors, walls, doors and windows of the premises, garages, drill towers, smoke chamber, etc.

Firemen and other ranks, accommodated in barracks or dormitory, shall be responsible for the proper cleanliness, orderly arrangement of their personal belongings, etc. They will also be held responsible for the safety of the various fixtures and sanitary and electrical fittings in such premises;

1. Perform all duties assigned to him by a senior officer in the interest of public service at fire station and fire operational ground;
2. Perform parade and drills as per scheduled routine or such other duties as may be ordered by the Officer-in-charge and attend all kinds of authorised demonstration relating to fire service, in and outside fire stations;
3. Remain in proper uniform during duty hours. Both the outgoing and incoming batches will have to fall-in during change-over of duties, in proper uniform;
4. While on fire ground or special job, etc., not leave his post without the permission of an officer and carry out any order given for the prompt extinguishing of the fire or rescue work;
5. Show proper respect to all officers of the fire station by saluting when on parades and drills and on sentry duty and otherwise when called during his duty period by coming to attention;
6. Help the Fire Engine Operator-cum-Driver in servicing duties mentioned in items (vi) and (vii) of the explanation to clause (h) of regulation 4;
7. Load and unload petrol containers on and from vehicles at the fire stations, scene of fire, places of duty at exhibitions, fairs, etc. and also places of storage.

(2) Firemen when posted as guard or sentry by turn or otherwise as may be deemed fit by the Officer-in-charge of the fire station shall be properly dressed in prescribed uniforms and shall not leave his post until he is duly relieved. While on guard duty the firemen shall be responsible—

1. To guard all properties, fixtures, fittings, and other effects, both in the fire station premises and station surroundings;
2. To see that all persons entering the fire station premises are directed to the Officer-in-charge;
3. To be aware and remain alert at all times;
4. To control the movements of incoming and outgoing vehicles to avoid accident.