Fire Department Employees Day in Tajikistan Date in the current year: July 30, 2024

The history of organized firefighting dates back to ancient Rome. The first ever fire brigade was created by general and statesman Marcus Licinius Crassus. However, his motivation wasn’t altruistic; Crassus’ firefighters did nothing to put out the fire until the property owner agreed to sell the building to Crassus at a ridiculously low price. Emperor Augustus used the idea to form a public firefighting force called the Vigiles, who served as both firefighters and police officers.

In medieval and early modern Europe, organized firefighting was rudimentary. The situation began to change after the 1666 Great Fire of London had destroyed over 13,000 houses, leaving approximately 70,000 Londoners homeless. After the fire, insurance companies began to form their own fire brigades to protect the buildings that belonged to their clients. Uninsured buildings were left to burn down, unless firefighters needed to protect a neighboring insured building.

The first modern-type fire brigades were created in France in the beginning of the 18th century. At first, people had to pay a fee for their services, but in 1733, the government decided that fire brigades would put out fires free of charge. The world’s first municipal fire brigade was formed in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1824.

The history of the State Fire Service of Tajikistan began after the October Revolution and the formation of the Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1924, the first volunteer fire brigade wad created in the city of Khujand. In addition to fighting fires, its members cleaned city streets and carried out other works not related to their primary responsibility.

On June 5, 1928, the second voluntary fire brigade was created in Dushanbe. On July 30 of the same year, a decree “On State Fire Inspectorate” was adopted, establishing the first state fire service in Tajikistan.

In present-day Tajikistan, the Main Directorate of the State Fire Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is responsible for fire safety. It carries out its activities in accordance with the law “On Fire Safety” and other applicable laws and regulations. The employees of the State Fire Service not only fight fires, but also help prevent them by developing and implementing fire safety measures, as well as gathering statistical information about the causes and consequences of fires.

Fire Department Employees Day in Tajikistan was created to commemorate the founding anniversary of the State Fire Service. It is marked with special meetings held at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan and fire departments throughout the country. At these meetings, fire department employees are congratulated on their professional holiday, and those of them who’ve distinguished themselves during the past year are given special awards and/or promoted to the next rank.