PCMC Fire Brigade Puts All Seven Officers on Rotational Night Duty After Night Response Concerns
PCMC’s fire brigade has put all seven of its officers on a rotational night-duty roster, so a senior officer is now on call for night-time fires in Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Photo: Rsrikanth05 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pimpri-Chinchwad, 5th November 2026: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) fire brigade has put all seven of its fire officers on a rotational night-duty roster. Until now, none of them was assigned to the night shift.
The change was ordered by Deputy Commissioner Vyankatesh Durvas, who oversees the fire department, Punekar News reported on 4 November. “Night duties have been assigned to fire department officers on a rotational basis,” Durvas said.
What changes for night-time fires in Pimpri-Chinchwad
Firefighting crews were always on duty at night. What was missing was a senior officer to take charge at the scene.
Officers used to attend major fires during the day. At night, crews were left to handle large incidents without a supervisor to guide them. Under the new roster, one officer will be on night duty by turn, so major night-time calls get senior supervision.
Why PCMC made the change now
The report gives two reasons. The first is the gap compared with the police. The police have deputy commissioner-level officers on night patrol to respond to major incidents, but the fire brigade had no such arrangement.
The second is experience. About 150 new personnel have recently joined the PCMC fire brigade. They are trained in firefighting but have little field experience, so a senior officer on site at night matters more.
Why it matters during Diwali
The timing is significant. Diwali week brings a jump in fire calls across Pune district, mostly from firecrackers, lamps and short circuits in decorative lighting. Many of these calls come late in the evening and at night.
Pimpri-Chinchwad has dense industrial belts in Bhosari MIDC, Chikhli and Talawade, along with crowded markets in Pimpri Camp and Chinchwad. A fire in a godown or market lane at night needs quick decisions on water supply, access and evacuation.
Officer Gautam Ingawale recently attended a fire at two shops near Shagun Chowk in Pimpri, according to the report.
What residents should keep handy
- Call 101 for the fire brigade or 112 for any emergency.
- Keep a bucket of water or sand nearby when bursting crackers, and never burst them near parked vehicles or electric poles.
- Do not overload sockets with festive lights, and switch them off when you leave home.
Our guide to Pune fire brigade numbers and burn first aid for Diwali has more safety steps. You can also read the Pune Police firecracker rules for Diwali 2026.
Roster details PCMC has not shared
PCMC has not shared the night roster, the number of fire stations covered by each officer on duty, or response-time data before and after the change. We will update this story if the civic body publishes those details.
