April 30 — Fire Protection Day: history, traditions, how to congratulate

Every year, on April 30, Russia celebrates Fire Protection Day, a professional holiday for those who daily resist the fiery elements, protecting people's lives, property and infrastructure. In 2026, it falls on Thursday. How the fire service was formed in Russia, what traditions exist today, whom and how to congratulate, read in the Izvestia article.

Fire Protection Day – 2026: the history of the profession

The holiday received its official status in 1999 by decree of the President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin. The choice of date is directly related to the historical document, the Decree on the City Deanery, signed on April 30, 1649 by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.

The first mentions of fire brigades in Moscow date back to the 1420s. For a city dominated by wooden buildings, fire was one of the main threats. In 1434, citizens began to be involved in extinguishing fires — the fight against fires gradually transformed from a voluntary reaction to the duty of citizens.

In 1550, the fire brigades were reinforced by the Streltsy, they obeyed the commanders, acted with discipline and could keep people from panic and chaos. By 1629, about 200 firefighters were on duty in Moscow, and in the summer, when the risk of fires increased, their number was increased to 300.

Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich signed the Decree on the City Deanery on April 30, 1649. The document gave firefighting a clearer state order, fixed permanent patrols, fire prevention measures, rules for handling fire, the use of irrigation pipes and responsibility for violations. In fact, it was not only about dealing with consequences, but also about prevention, an approach that remains the foundation of fire safety today.

Under Peter the Great, fire safety requirements became broader and stricter. Security was monitored by day and night guard services, the number of rules related to fire prevention increased, and fire safety standards on ships were developed separately. This was of particular importance for a state that was actively building a fleet and port infrastructure.

One of the first professional fire brigades was established at the Admiralty in St. Petersburg in 1722. A fire station appeared there, and firefighters began to be equipped with pumps. The service gradually moved from temporary conscription to permanent staff organization.

In 1763, Catherine II established "fire fighting offices" in Moscow and St. Petersburg. This was an important step towards the formation of permanent staff: before that, the people involved in extinguishing often changed and did not always have the necessary skills.

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In 1802, under Alexander I, fire brigades appeared in large cities under police departments. In small settlements, fires were still extinguished mainly by local residents, but in large ones, a more manageable response system was already developing.

In the 19th century, under Nicholas I, the fire department was already established as an urban system. In different parts of the Russian Empire, fire towers were built — tall observation towers from which smoke could be seen and an alarm could be quickly sounded.

In 1853, the "Normal report card of fire brigades in cities" was approved. She determined the number of teams depending on the size of the settlement. In a small town with a population of up to 2 thousand people, five specialists were provided, and in a city with a population of 25-30 thousand people, 75 were already provided.

Since the middle of the 19th century, the work of the fire department has been increasingly influenced by technical innovations. In 1858, a steam fire engine appeared in St. Petersburg, at the same time, the telegraph began to be used to call commands, and in the 1890s, telephone communication. This accelerated the transmission of messages and made it possible to send teams to the scene faster. In 1883, the first mechanical ladder appeared in the arsenal of firefighters. In large cities, where buildings were getting taller and denser, firefighters needed new ways to reach the upper floors and roofs.

After the October Revolution, fire protection became a state task. In April 1918, Vladimir Lenin, Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR, signed a decree on fire safety measures, which provided for fire prevention, personnel training and the development of special equipment production.

In the USSR, in 1927, a unified system of state fire supervision was approved with an emphasis on fire prevention, and not only on combating their consequences.

In 1936, the Main Department of Fire Protection was established and the regulations on state fire supervision were approved. This has strengthened control over compliance with safety requirements in enterprises, institutions and the residential sector.

Since the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the fire brigade has been working under the constant threat of bombing, shortage of equipment and shortage of personnel. Women began to be actively accepted into the service. They were on duty, put out fires after the raids and participated in the protection of urban infrastructure.

In 1993, after the collapse of the USSR, the State Fire Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia was established. This made it possible to maintain centralized fire protection management during the period of reforms and organizational restructuring.

In 2001, the fire department joined the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations and became the Federal Fire Service. This expanded its role: the units became even more closely linked to civil defense, disaster management, rescue operations and emergency response.

The modern State Fire Service is not only about extinguishing fires. Its units are involved in the elimination of the consequences of accidents, road accidents, man-made incidents and other emergencies.

Traditions of Fire Protection Day celebrations

On April 30, personnel formations, awards for employees who distinguished themselves in the performance of their official duties, as well as commemorative ceremonies in honor of the fallen firefighters are held in fire and rescue service units across the country.

Educational work occupies a special place. Fire brigades open their doors to citizens, demonstrating modern equipment, equipment and equipment. Visitors can learn about the principles of the service, the rules of conduct in case of fire and the basics of safety.

Thematic lessons, workshops and evacuation training are organized for schoolchildren and students. Demonstrations are taking place in a number of regions — extinguishing simulated fires, demonstrating rescue operations, and working with high-altitude equipment.

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The festive program is complemented by exhibitions, sports competitions, flash mobs and city events aimed at improving the safety culture and popularizing the profession.

Happy Fire Protection Day — best wishes

On Fire Protection Day, congratulations are received by current employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, veterans of the service, teachers of specialized educational institutions, as well as cadets preparing to connect their lives with this profession. Izvestia has prepared several examples of how this can be done.:

• "Congratulations on Fire Protection Day! Your job is to fight the elements, where there is no room for error. Let you have the strength, precision and composure in every difficult situation, and the risk always remains justified and controlled. We wish that every departure ends safely, and that you will always be welcomed at home with love and pride.";
• "Congratulations on your professional holiday! Thank you for your courage and willingness to go to the "fiery front line." We wish you to find the optimal solution and maintain confidence in any situation. May your service have more fires prevented than the consequences eliminated";
• "Happy Fire Protection Day! Your profession requires not only strength, but also precise calculation. We wish that the technique does not fail, and the solutions turn out to be correct. May there be more quiet shifts in your work, difficult challenges end in victory over circumstances, and there will be more stability and time for your loved ones in life.";
• "On Fire Protection Day, we wish you endurance, a reliable team and inner balance. Thank you for your work, on which people's safety and lives depend. May the service bring not only trials, but also a sense of importance, respect and support from society. Happy holidays!";
• "Congratulations on Fire Protection Day! You are operating in an environment where there is no second chance. Let everything work out in your favor at critical moments — technology, circumstances, the human factor, and your professionalism and experience always turn out to be stronger than any circumstances."

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of Ambulance Worker's Day.