New Chief Fire Officer Vows to Restore Confidence in Mauritian Fire Service

Ashok Ramdhean, a veteran who started his career in the Quatre-Bornes barracks in 1990, has been appointed as the new Chief Fire Officer (CFO) of the Mauritius Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS).The former Deputy Chief Fire Officer is tasked with the “heavy responsibility” of restoring the image and confidence of the service’s 988 “fire soldiers” and truly restarting the 174-year-old institution. His appointment comes four months after the retirement of his “highly controversial” predecessor, Asok Kumar Kehlary.

Vision for Change and Modernisation

Mr. Ramdhean, who is from Montagne-Longue, intends to tackle the “colossal” task ahead by immediately addressing the negative legacy left by his predecessor, whose “unconventional and toxic methods” were widely contested during his five-year tenure.

The Fire Fighters Union (FFU) has publicly backed Mr. Ramdhean, stating he “has earned his place and has the solid backbone to restore the reputation of the fire soldiers.”

FFU representative, Trivengadum Pillay, offered “warm congratulations,” adding that the union looks forward to “collaborating closely with him in a spirit of dialogue and partnership… unlike what we have seen in the not-too-distant past.”

Key Objectives Outlined by the New CFO:

• Accelerating Promotions: A top priority is to rectify the “unjust” situation faced by firefighters who successfully passed the promotion exams for Station Fire Officer and Divisional Fire Officer, only to see the entire exercise cancelled in 2023 following accusations of nepotism against the former boss. A new scheme to accelerate these promotions is awaiting approval at the ministry level.
• Recruitment Drive: He plans to recruit 60 new firefighters to staff the upcoming New Goodlands Fire Station. Requests have been made to the Discipline Forces Service Commission (DFSC).
• New Stations: Construction of two more new stations is set to begin in the coming weeks in Montage-Blanche and Jin Fei, which are deemed essential for “reducing intervention waiting times, which can save lives.”
• Boosting Specialist Units:
  • Pre-Hospital Emergency Care: Only 58 firefighters are currently trained for this unit, which works with the SAMU ambulance service. A recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Mauritius Institute of Health (MIH) aims to train more personnel to address the “upsurge in accidents.”
  • Swift Water Rescue Unit: Only 109 firefighters have been integrated into this unit. Mr. Ramdhean stated this unit “must gain strength” to combat increasing flooding and climate change issues.

Past Challenges and Future Investments

Mr. Ramdhean also addressed major incidents and equipment needs:

• Mare Chicose Fire: He recalled the extensive fire at the Mare Chicose landfill, noting that the absence of the Hazmat truck (stationed at the Coromandel barracks) was criticised. This specialist vehicle, bought from Germany in 2021, is equipped to decontaminate firefighters and handle hazardous materials. The CFO called for a dedicated Hazmat team, along with the purchase of “new helmets, breathing masks, and new boots, etc.”
• Volunteers: He suggested the recruitment of volunteer firefighters to reinforce emergency teams during major incidents. He estimated that a fire like Mare Chicose, which took 30 days to contain, “could be done in less than 20 days if we have a strong corps of volunteers trained by us.”
• Technology: Mr. Ramdhean, who has attended training courses in South Korea, is also considering the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into firefighter training to “optimise learning and improve preparation for interventions,” pending government funding.

A Career Forged in Service

The new CFO’s ascension comes after 35 years of service, having been promoted to Assistant Chief Fire Officer in 2020 and Deputy Chief Fire Officer in 2024. Colleagues describe him as a “straight-shooter.”

Intriguingly, Mr. Ramdhean was not initially destined to be a firefighter. After secondary school, he started his working life as a lorry driver. The possession of a Heavy Motor Vehicle driving licence was his “click,” as he saw an advertisement seeking firefighters with that very qualification, leading him to join the service on December 10, 1990.

The first CFO, Mr. R. Frost, was an Englishman when the Municipal Fire Service was founded in 1851. Mr. Ramdhean now enters history as he takes the reins, a position equivalent to the Commissioner of Police for the police force.

Source: Le Mauricien