The Fire Service in Nigeria was established in 1901, as an arm of the Lagos Police Fire brigade. In April1963, an act of Parliament established the Federal Fire Service.

The Federal Fire Service (FFS) has the statutory responsibility for rescue fire prevention, mitigation, fire fighting as well as paramedical and information services. The Federal Government reform of the Fire Services in the country in 2007 redefined the mandate of the Service as Regulation of the State and Private Fire Services, Prescription and monitoring of standards for the promotion of fire education, fire prevention, safety, mitigation and investigation, Ensuring effective discharge of the functions of the State Fire Services, Provision of policy direction for the Nation’s Fire Services, Ensuring the standardization of fire and rescue equipment manufactured or imported into Nigeria, Encouraging the establishment by the State Fire Services of adequate number of fire stations and fire posts, Establishing the National Fire Academy to meet the training requirements of fire fighters in the country and beyond and Coordination of national emergencies.