Pimpri Chinchwad fire brigade handles 76 fire calls on Lakshmi Puja night, nearly four times last year

The Pimpri Chinchwad fire brigade faced a sharp surge in fire incidents on Lakshmi Puja. From 5 pm on Sunday until Monday morning, the fire department responded to 76 fire-related incidents. The date was November 9, 2026.

About 20 such incidents were recorded on Lakshmi Puja last year, which means this year's figure was nearly four times as high. It is believed to be the highest number of fire incidents recorded in the city in a single day.

Almost all the incidents were linked to firecrackers set off during Diwali celebrations. Of these, 50 occurred in open spaces, where grass, garbage and trees caught fire. There were 20 fires in flats, houses and shops. The remaining six involved flex banners, compound walls, vehicles and towers. Of the 76 incidents, none caused any injury or loss of life.

The fire brigade received far more calls than it normally does. Earlier, about 60 fire incidents had been recorded within municipal limits over the entire week.

To reach spots as quickly as possible, the department stationed personnel and vehicles at 12 more key locations in the city, in addition to its 10 fire stations. In all, about 250 officers and personnel and 42 fire engines were deployed. Leave for fire brigade staff had been cancelled to ensure adequate manpower during the festival.

Fire officials said the additional deployment allowed teams to reach the sites quickly despite the unusually high number of calls, and averted any major mishap.