02 October,2026 08:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Sarthak Mehta
MFB staffers during the ongoing MTC at Wadala Fire Brigade Grounds on Wednesday. Pics/Sarthak Mehta
The Mumbai Fire Brigade's (MFB) first-ever maintenance training for firefighters is underway, with the first batch of 40 personnel set to complete the course on October 3.
MFB officials told mid-day that 120 firefighters will undergo the Maintenance Technician Course (MTC) across three batches, with the course expected to conclude by October-end marking the conclusion of the 11-month training schedule that has upskilled 20-30 per cent of the brigade's 2577-strong workforce.
[popcorn number="2577" desc="No of staffers in Mumbai Fire Brigade" class="Default"]
The firefighters are being trained by the Indian Rescue Academy (IRA). The MTC follows two other courses - Flood Rescue Training (FRT) and Advanced Technical Rope Rescue Course (ATRRC).
Firefighters undergoing the maintenance training on Wednesday told this newspaper that the course prepares them for quick diagnosis and basic equipment repairs during disaster response. It also provides technical knowledge on maintaining equipment, including ropes and outboard motors (OBMs).
"This is good as we can decrease our reliance on third-party, time-consuming mechanics for prompt basic maintenance and repairs," said an MFB staffer. Another firefighter who attended all three courses said, "These trainings are definitely effective and prepare us for more informed and skilled disaster response."
>> Advanced anchor systems and mechanical advantage systems
>> Highline rescue
>> Self-rescue: ascending and descending techniques
>> Incident command system
>> Confined-space rescue
>> Communication and command structure
>> Mirror system-litter operation
>> Norwegian Reeve in highline rescue
>> Tower and industrial rescue
>> Basket stretcher rescue
>> Highline traverse
>> Victim lowering and hoisting
>> Ladder litter operation
Wadala Fire Brigade Station
>> 5S system and Kaizen
>> Basics of electricals
>> Battery and electrical system maintenance
>> IRB theory, assembly and disassembly
>> Non-return valve replacement
>> OBM theory, component checking and cleaning
>> OBM carburettor cleaning, recoil drum and broken rope changing
>> Difference between two-stroke and four-stroke engines
>> Last FRT batch ended in July 2026
>> 500 firefighters trained since December 2025
>> 120 firefighters, including 12 officers, completed ATRRC by September 13
>> The first MTC batch began on September 18
>> The 11-day MTC course ends on October 3
>> Two more MTC batches will follow
>> Most firefighters attended one course; some attended multiple courses
An MFB official
MTC is a first, while other trainings have been frequent over the years. These trainings, mostly undergone by younger firefighters this year, have significantly strengthened our fleet. These trainings bring advanced global-level exposure to equipment and rescue services for our firefighters.
