Pune recorded 94 fire incidents in a 16-hour period during Lakshmi Puja, as fireworks sparked fires across buildings, homes, vehicles, open plots and commercial premises in the city and its suburbs. No deaths or major injuries were reported, according to details attributed to the Pune Fire Brigade.
The fire calls were recorded from 3 pm on Sunday until 7 am on Monday. The first reported incident occurred at 3.14 pm at Kadnagar Chowk in Kondhwa, where materials in the basement of an abandoned building caught fire. As fireworks intensified later in the evening, the number of incidents rose across several parts of Pune.
The highest concentration of fires was reported between 7 pm and 11 pm. Fire brigade personnel responded to successive emergency calls through the night, travelling to locations across the city and adjoining suburban areas to contain the fires.
Incidents were reported in Shivajinagar, Sadashiv Peth, Kothrud, Nana Peth, Bhavani Peth, Katraj, Dhayari, Sinhagad Road, Warje, Yerawada, Kharadi, Viman Nagar, Baner, Pashan, Hadapsar and Dhanori. The affected sites included flats, balconies, house roofs, open grassland, waste heaps, trees, shops, vehicles, warehouses and a sugarcane-jaggery processing unit.
The range of locations and property types involved shows how fireworks-related fire risk extended beyond individual residential buildings. Dry vegetation, accumulated waste, exposed materials and structures in densely occupied areas all became potential points of ignition during the period of intense fireworks activity. The supplied report attributed the incidents to sparks from fireworks and said that safety rules were widely ignored by citizens and the administration.
Fire brigade teams reached the reported locations and brought the fires under control. Their rapid response prevented the incidents from causing fatalities or major injuries, according to the report. The repeated calls also placed sustained pressure on the fire-control room and personnel deployed across the city during the festival period.
The latest count highlights the operational challenge faced by Pune’s emergency services when multiple fire calls arrive within a short period. Fire brigade personnel continued responding to incidents through the night, with the final reported period ending at 7 am on Monday.
