National Fire Service Day is observed on April 14 every year to pay homage to the commitment and sacrifice by the 71 Fire Service personnel during an unfortunate mishap in Bombay in 1944.

An incident occurred at freighter SS Fort Stikine at the Victoria Dock in the Bombay Port on that fateful day. It saw deaths of 71 Fire Service personnel in their bid to save lives while fighting the fire spread from the explosion.