Station Officer Trainee: Kerala Fire and Rescue

Kerala Trade Network; Thiruvananthapuram; On-site; INR 43,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

Kerala Public Service Commission invites applications for Station Officer (Trainee) in the Fire and Rescue Services Department, Government of Kerala, with statewide posting across Kerala’s 14 districts. Trainees undergo a foundation course before deployment to a district station.

Eligibility includes Science graduates aged 20–35, chemistry preferred; applications open 30 June 2026 to 5 August 2026; the selection process comprises a written exam, physical efficiency test, medical exam, document

Qualifications

• Graduate in Science from a recognised university.
• Chemistry graduates get preference; any science stream also acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Run a fire station, head crew shifts, coordinate turnouts and manage appliances.
• Stand on scene as the ranking officer during an incident.

Skills

Science graduate

Chemistry preferred

Education

Science degree

Job description

# Station Officer Trainee: Kerala Fire and Rescue**Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Department**Kerala Public Service Commission, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695004 Start Date23/07/2026INR67,300.00 Full-TimeThe Kerala Public Service Commission is hiring one **Station Officer (Trainee)** for the Fire and Rescue Services Department, with statewide posting across Kerala's 14 districts. Applications are open through **5 August 2026**, and the role carries a pay scale of INR 43,400 to 91,200 in the Kerala state pay matrix. Science graduates aged 20 to 35, with a preference for chemistry backgrounds, can apply online through the Kerala PSC One Time Registration profile. The vacancy is one of 34 posts in the same 30 June 2026 gazette, and readers scanning the wider set can start with recent business and government listings on Kerala Trade Network to compare deadlines and eligibility.Apply on Official Website## Role OverviewA Station Officer runs a fire station. The person heads crew shifts, coordinates turnouts, manages appliances, and stands on scene as the ranking officer during an incident. The trainee designation covers the induction period, after which appointees confirm to the substantive rank. Selection runs through a written examination followed by a physical efficiency test, medical examination, document verification, and personal interview, held under the Fire and Rescue Services special rules.* **Post name:** Station Officer (Trainee)* **Department:** Fire and Rescue Services, Government of Kerala* **Category number:** 47/2026* **Vacancies:** 1 (statewide)* **Employment type:** Regular Kerala government service, trainee for the initial phase* **Pay scale:** INR 43,400 to INR 91,200* **Application window:** 30 June 2026 to 5 August 2026* **Notification source:** Extra Ordinary Kerala Gazette dated 30 June 2026## Who Can ApplyApplicants must be graduates in Science from a recognised university. Chemistry graduates get preference, but any science stream, including physics, mathematics, biology, and biotechnology, qualifies. Age falls between 20 and 35 years, with the eligible birth window running from 2 January 1991 to 1 January 2006. Standard age relaxation applies to candidates from Other Backward Communities and Scheduled Castes and Tribes, and clerks already serving in the Fire and Rescue Department may apply up to age 43. Applicants based in Thiruvananthapuram or nearby districts can visit the Kerala PSC head office for OTR verification queries during working hours.**Eligibility restriction to note:** Kerala's Fire Service special rules currently bar female candidates and differently-abled candidates from the Station Officer (Trainee) role. Candidates in those categories should scan the other 33 posts in the same gazette, which includes Computer Assistant Grade II, Assistant Engineer (Electrical), and several other categories open to all applicants under the same 5 August deadline.## Physical and Medical StandardsGeneral category candidates need height of 165 cm, weight of 50 kg, chest measurement of 81 cm, and chest expansion of 5 cm. Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates have adjusted minimums of 160 cm height, 48 kg weight, and 76 cm chest. Vision requirements are 6/6 Snellen in both eyes and near vision 0.5 without correction; colour blindness and squint disqualify applicants. The physical efficiency test covers eight events, of which candidates must clear five. Prior fitness prep, particularly on the 1500 metre run, rope climb, and shot put, tends to separate the shortlisted candidates from the rest.## Salary and Career GrowthThe starting pay band is INR 43,400 to INR 91,200 in the Kerala state pay matrix. Beyond basic pay, uniformed service allowances, HRA on the applicable Kerala city classification, and standard state-service benefits apply, including pension, group insurance, and family medical cover. Career progression runs Station Officer to Divisional Fire Officer to Regional Fire Officer to Deputy Director and Director of the department, with time-bound and merit-based promotions. Trainees complete a foundation course at the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Academy in Thiruvananthapuram before deployment to a district station. Historical cutoff marks and past-year question papers for this cadre are published on the Kerala PSC portal.## About the DepartmentKerala Fire and Rescue Services is one of the state's oldest uniformed departments, tracing back to the 1962 Fire Force Act. It runs a network of over 130 fire stations across the 14 districts, with divisional headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode. Beyond fire response, the department handles road accident rescue, drowning response, industrial hazard containment, cyclone and flood disaster response, and animal rescue calls. For wider context on Kerala's civic services and public infrastructure that a Station Officer works within, see the Keralam overview page on Kerala Trade Network.## How to ApplyApplications go through Kerala PSC's One Time Registration (OTR) profile at keralapsc.gov.in. Candidates who do not yet hold an OTR profile complete a one-time signup with proof of identity and academic records, then log in and click Apply Now against Category 47/2026 under the 30 June 2026 gazette. There is no application fee. Read the department special rules and the exam scheme before applying; the KPSC previous-year question papers for Station Officer (Trainee) are searchable on the same portal. The OTR portal closes at 12:00 midnight IST on 5 August 2026, and late submissions are not accepted. Track future notifications from the same source on the Kerala Trade Network jobs page.