PCMC fire brigade on alert for Diwali emergencies

With the onset of Diwali festivities, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) Fire Department has gone on high alert, initiating extensive preparations to prevent fire mishaps and ensure swift response in case of emergencies; to achieve this, all officers and employees have been instructed to cancel their leave from Oct 20 to 25, Deputy Fire Officer Rishikant Chipade said on Saturday.

- Staff Reporter

The fire department, already burdened with growing responsibilities due to the city’s rapid expansion and rising number of high-rise structures, is operating through ten fire stations that are presently equipped with — essential machinery and vehicles; however, given the limitations of available manpower, the administration has ordered that all fire personnel remain on continuous duty during the festive period so that response times are minimised and readiness is maintained at every station. Chipade noted that during Diwali, large quantities of firecrackers are burst across the city, often in densely populated areas, and that several of the previous fire incidents were traced to carelessness while handling fireworks; he appealed to citizens to remain vigilant, exercise caution and observe safety norms. Citing official data