PANAJI
The Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services responded to 8,002 fire and emergency calls in 2025, saving 161 human lives and 842 animal lives, senior officials said at the 38th Annual Inspection Day Parade held at the Goa State Fire Force Training Ground, St Inez on Saturday.
The annual parade, an institutional exercise to assess operational preparedness, discipline and physical fitness, was attended by IAS officer Yetindra Maralkar, Secretary (Health), as the chief guest.
Addressing the gathering, Director of Fire & Emergency Services Nitin Raiker, said the parade was more than a ceremonial event, describing it as a platform to review operational efficiency and reinforce accountability and institutional discipline. He said of the 8,002 calls attended last year, 2,889 were fire incidents and 5,113 were other emergencies.
The department will also soon integrate with 112 Emergency Response Support System, enabling citizens to access police, fire and medical services through a unified helpline.
He said infrastructure expansion remained a priority, noting that the modern fire station at Valpoi had recently been inaugurated, while new stations at Bicholim and Vasco were under construction to strengthen response coverage across the State.
Raiker also highlighted the department’s focus on training and public outreach. The Goa Training Centre has been conducting structured programmes for officers from various States, besides training thousands of citizens, school teachers and Yuva Apada Mitras in fire safety and disaster preparedness.
The department also recorded a strong showing at the All India Fire Service Sports & Fire Service Meet 2026 held in Udaipur, Rajasthan, where eight of the 15 participants from Goa won five gold, six silver and nine bronze medals.
Maralkar described the Fire & Emergency Services as a critical pillar of Goa’s disaster management framework and lauded personnel for their prompt handling of emergencies during the past year.
Fire Force Headquarters secured first place in the Squad Drill, and also won the Ladder Drill and Tug of War competitions. The Pump Drill title went to Mapusa Fire Station. Old Goa Fire Station was adjudged Best Station Maintenance, while Vasco Fire Station received the award for Best Vehicle Maintenance.
