Assembly approves Fire Service (Amendment) Bill, 2026

The Legislative Assembly cleared the A.P. Fire Service (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on Wednesday, thereby enabling the State government to issue Fire Safety Certificates (FSCs) in place of No Objection Certificates (NOC) / licences and carrying out other required changes, including considering all Fire Services as Emergency Services, to the 26-year-old Act.

Minister for Home and Disaster Management Vangalapudi Anitha stated that FSCs were being given across the country in compliance with the Central government’s ‘Model Bill to Provide for Maintenance of a Fire & Emergency Service- 2019 for the State’, which also recommended that the States should adopt such laws required by their specific needs and circumstances.

She stated that since the penalties stipulated under the existing Act were outdated and nominal under Sections 27, 28 and 29, they were being increased from ₹500 to ₹10,000 and from ₹100 per day to ₹1,000 per day under Section 31.

The Bill provided for adoption of the definition of high-rise buildings as contained in the local municipal law and redefining high-rise buildings and updating the associated safety mechanisms such as to meet the demands of rapid urbanisation and industrialisation.

Also, the Bill provided for use of advanced firefighting technologies to ensure structural safety of the high-rise and super high-rise buildings under construction in Amaravati. All changes related to safety of the high-rise buildings would be in compliance with the National Building Code of 2025.

Further, Ms. Anitha said the Bill facilitates the appointment of Fire Safety Supervisors in accordance with the Model Fire Force Bill. Their role would be to ensure both maintenance and quality control of fire safety installations, thereby reducing potential losses of life and property.

The basic objective of the Amendment Bill was to streamline processes related to fire services, ensure their timely delivery and reduce ambiguity through user-friendly provisions, Ms. Anitha said, adding that the government would resort to the extreme step of seizing buildings as a punishment for blatant violation of norms.