Tamil Nadu eases fireman driver recruitment to tackle severe shortage

The Tamil Nadu government has amended recruitment rules to allow direct hiring of fireman drivers, aiming to address a critical shortage of personnel in the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) Department. Previously, this role was filled only through promotions from within the service, requiring a fireman to serve at least three years before becoming eligible.

Under the new rules, fireman drivers will now be recruited both directly through the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board and by promotion from Category 3 of Class II staff. The ratio between direct recruitment and promotion is set at 4:1, meaning for every five positions, four will be filled by direct hires and one by promotion.

The TNFRS operates 384 stations across the state with about 8,100 officers and personnel, managing nearly 980 fire and rescue vehicles. The shortage of qualified drivers has hampered response times and operational efficiency. According to a government order, drivers are crucial not only for operating vehicles but also for managing pumps and maintaining water or foam pressure at incident sites.

In 2025, the department responded to 23,043 fire calls, saving 93 human lives and property worth ₹691 crore. It also handled 1,54,634 rescue calls, saving 3,214 humans and over 95,359 animals. The new recruitment policy is expected to ease the personnel crunch and improve emergency services across Tamil Nadu.