Ahmedabad Fire Services See 5% Decrease in Emergency Calls During 2025-26
The Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) has released comprehensive data revealing a notable decline in emergency call volumes for the 2025-26 fiscal year. According to the official statistics, the city's fire and rescue services responded to a total of 2,697 calls during this period. This figure translates to approximately seven calls per day, or one emergency call every 3.5 hours on average.
Comparative Analysis Shows Decrease in Overall Call Volume
The data, which was shared during the observance of National Fire Service Day, indicates a 5% reduction in total calls compared to the previous fiscal year. In 2024-25, AFES had recorded 2,835 emergency calls, making the current year's total significantly lower. This downward trend in overall call volume represents a positive development for the city's emergency response infrastructure.
Increase in Fire and Non-Fire Incident Calls
Despite the overall decrease in total calls, the data reveals a contrasting increase in specific categories. Calls related to both fire incidents and non-fire emergencies rose by approximately 11% during the same period. The number of such calls increased from 3,606 in 2024-25 to 3,868 in 2025-26, indicating shifting patterns in emergency service requirements.
National Fire Service Day Commemorations
National Fire Service Day is observed annually across India on April 14th to honor the memory of firefighters who sacrificed their lives during a major firefighting operation at Bombay Docks in 1944. During this year's commemorations, AFES officials and personnel paid solemn tribute to colleagues who lost their lives in the line of duty over the past year, reaffirming their commitment to public safety.
Infrastructure Expansion and Modernization Plans
Amit Dongre, Chief Fire Officer of AFES, provided detailed insights into the city's fire service infrastructure during a Tuesday briefing. He revealed that Ahmedabad currently operates 21 fire stations to cover a sprawling 505 square kilometer area, with 19 of these stations currently functional. To address the expanding urban landscape and improve response times, four new fire stations are planned for imminent addition to the network.
"The older fire stations are being renovated and replaced in a phase-wise manner," CFO Dongre explained. "Currently, the Odhav fire station is undergoing comprehensive renovation work. Other stations will be addressed systematically in the coming months."
The fire services currently employ 618 officers and personnel who manage the city's emergency response needs across various shifts and specializations.
Notable Rescue Operations and Special Deployments
AFES officials highlighted several significant achievements from the past year, including the rescue and site management operations following the AI 171 crash, which they described as one of their most challenging and successful responses. Additionally, the services have implemented specialized deployments along the Sabarmati Riverfront to prevent suicide attempts and rescue individuals from drowning.
This proactive approach yielded substantial results during 2025-26, with AFES responding to 119 rescue calls from the river area and successfully saving 33 lives through timely intervention and expert water rescue techniques.
Future Preparedness and Service Enhancement
The combination of decreasing overall call volumes and increasing specialized incident responses has prompted AFES to reevaluate their strategic planning. The planned expansion to 25 fire stations, coupled with ongoing renovations of existing facilities, represents a comprehensive approach to modernizing Ahmedabad's emergency response capabilities.
As the city continues to grow and evolve, these infrastructure improvements aim to ensure that fire and rescue services remain adequately equipped to handle both routine emergencies and large-scale incidents with maximum efficiency and minimal response times.
