Pune: The city fire brigade recorded 94 fire-related emergency calls between Sunday night and Monday while Pimpri Chinchwad fire brigade received 76 emergency calls on Sunday. This marked the highest number of such calls on Lakshmi puja day since 2021. Around 80% of the calls were received between 8pm and 10pm on Sunday.
officials said most of the fires were caused by firecrackers or diyas While no injuries or casualties were reported.
Last year, 20 fire incidents were reported on Lakshmi Pujan,” said Vyankatesh Durvas, Pimpri Chinchwad fire brigade head. Apart from its 10 regular fire stations, the department deployed fire engines with adequate personnel at 12 sensitive and crowded locations. He said 76 fire incidents were reported between 5pm on Sunday and the early hours of Monday. “The highest number, 50, involved fires in open fields, dry grass, garbage and trees. Fires were reported in flats, houses and shops at 20 spots, while vehicles, banners and towers were damaged at six spots,” he said.
Durvas said the department had made extensive preparations to deal with fire incidents during Diwali . “As many as 42 vehicles and 250 fire personnel and staff members were kept ready round-the-clock to reach the spots immediately,” he said. Pune fire brigade chief Ganesh Sonune and his team visited and monitored several locations across the city. Meanwhile in Pimpri Chinchwad, the fire brigade remained on alert throughout the day to respond to emergencies. “This was probably a record for such a high number of fire incidents in a single day.