The development of Fire Services in India was to a large extent influenced by India’s political and historical association with Britain till the Second World War (1939-1945). At the outbreak of war in 1939, there were innumerable Fire Authorities in Britain which were heterogeneous and ill-equipped to function as a National Force-so vital for the war effort. A hurried attempt was made to fuse them into an integrated National Organization- the National Fire Service -which, in spite of all handicaps did commendable work and helped to maintain the British morale at a high pitch throughout the duration of war. After the war was over, the responsibility for the administration of the Fire Services reverted to the Local Bodies because of a promise made by the Home Secretary at the time of constituting the National Fire Service . The lessons learnt during the war were, however, not wasted. The number of Fire Authorities was drastically reduced, making each a viable one, and the British Home Office established an Inspectorate of Fire Services, evidently with a view to ensure standardization of equipment, brigade procedures, uniform, ranks and training and to ensure better coordination and cooperation among them.India did not have a National Fire Service during the war. In consequence, the Fire Brigades retained their heterogeneous character and the majority of them continued to remain ill-equipped at the end of the war. They had an added handicap of having to depend entirely upon imported equipment. The Government of India was fully conscious of this and was keen to bring about all possible improvements. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, therefore set up an “Expert Committee” in 1950.