Rakesh, a dedicated fire officer, faced many ups and downs in his life but was determined to be an officer in the fire department. He has been working in this field for the last 22 years.

Rakesh Vyas is a Chief Fire Officer at the Fire and Rescue Department in Udaipur.

Rakesh is originally from Kota, Rajasthan. He finished his education in Kota. He then went on to do his BBA in Ujjain. Growing up, he had to deal with a lot of difficulties. When he was in college, his father passed away. It was a difficult and dismal time for him. In place of his late father, the government assigned him to a clerical position. He eventually finished his college education after that. He took fire department recruiting exams after graduating from college with distinction. His grades earned him a spot at NFSC Nagpur, one of the most prestigious institutes for employment in the fire safety sector.

Recalling his childhood memories, Rakesh says he was a mischievous student. He was a backbencher with an average academic record. His life, however, changed dramatically after his father died. He was determined never to take anything for granted and became a hardworking student. He missed his father when he was promoted to subordinate officer at his job with distinction because he wanted to display his achievements to his father.

Rakesh shares that he saved the residents of Malwa in the great floods of 2006. The district administration dispatched the Kota rescue team. His team stayed for ten days. It was a horrible disaster, and his squad found 48 bodies. Another event occurred when a bridge collapsed during construction, killing numerous people as they were immersed in the Chambal River. His division saved several individuals and recovered 46 bodies. Furthermore, he recounted an occasion in which he nearly lost his life extinguishing a fire that broke out in a petrol station. The district administration rewarded him with numerous laurels for his gallantry. He engaged in social service during COVID 19. Relief work was carried out for the welfare of the underprivileged by the Fire Department.

Rakesh’s role model is a retired Ahmedabad chief fire officer named Mr. MF Daftoor. He was under his training and guidance during his training period. He also admires Mr. Sanjay Sharma, the former Chief Fire Officer, as he learned a lot from him regarding the practical knowledge of his field.

Advising aspirants in his field, Rakesh says that one should have deep knowledge about fire installation and the use of equipment. One must remain highly alert in all situations. One cannot survive long without respect for the profession and knowledge of the occupational hazards that come with it. Knowledge of the latest equipment is also a must.

Comparing education and experience, Rakesh says that education is important. However, one can only move forward in life with the accumulation of experience. Having served in this field and faced his fair share of hardships and grief in this profession, he believes that experience is the best teacher in life.

On the subject of leadership, Rakesh says that certain people are born leaders with the ability to effectively manage a team and make bold decisions, but he has learned these skills over time. In every choice, leaders must take the initiative on behalf of their team members and care about everyone’s improvement.

Rakesh requests every firefighter in the country to give their all, even if it means risking their own lives for others.

In his free time, Rakesh likes to travel with his family and kids.

If given a time machine to go back in time, Rakesh would go back to his school days and relive his childhood.