New Delhi: To strengthen Delhi’s fire and emergency response capabilities, Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta has approved creating 2,345 additional posts across various categories in the Delhi Fire Service. With this decision, the department’s total sanctioned posts will increase from 3,096 to 5,441. CM Gupta said it was essential to strengthen the fire service in line with the city’s growing needs and to ensure the safety of Delhi’s residents and save lives.An official said that under the restructuring, the number of posts will be increased across various ranks and categories, including deputy chief fire officer, divisional officer, assistant divisional officer, station officer, sub-officer, leading fireman, fire operator, peon and gardener. This will increase the availability of personnel at every level, from senior supervisory positions to frontline staff engaged in firefighting and rescue operations, and will ensure better discharge of responsibilities and improve efficiency during emergencies.“Delhi’s rapidly growing population, expanding urban areas, densely populated settlements, high-rise buildings, industrial establishments and complex infrastructure are creating new challenges for firefighting and emergency services. Every minute matters in the event of a fire or any other disaster. Adequate trained manpower, a strong leadership structure and the ability to respond quickly play a decisive role in protecting people and their property,” CM Gupta said.“Apart from fire incidents, the department also plays an important role in dealing with accidents, emergencies and rescue operations. It is therefore essential to ensure adequate manpower and a strong command structure at every level. The creation of additional posts is not merely a decision to increase the workforce, but an important investment in Delhi’s public safety, institutional capacity and future requirements,” CM said.DFS handled 36,877 emergency calls in 2025-26, the highest annual volume recorded in the past six years. Of these, 55.3% were related to fire incidents, while the remaining calls involved animal and bird rescues and other emergencies.Delhi home minister Ashish Sood said that, given Delhi’s changing needs and growing fire risks, the fire service must have adequate manpower, a strong supervisory structure and the capacity to deal with every situation.
