Deonar dumping ground fires: Fighting fire with non-potable water, new techniques
A series of pocket fires have been breaking out at the dumping ground since March 19 and the fire brigade is yet to gain control over it.
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The fire at Deonar dumping ground flared up again. Express photo
WITH water supply hit in the city and criticism over wastage of potable water, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s fire brigade is using non-potable water for all fire-fighting operations at the Deonar dumping ground. For the last couple of days, fire engines have started using water from the Ashis Talav in Chembur, being carried in 20 private tankers deployed by the BMC.
Improvising on its fire-fighting techniques, the fire brigade has attached water hoses to the bulldozers to ensure that water is able to reach under the mounds of garbage. “The water wasn’t reaching under the top layer of the garbage. We were excavating from one side and watering another side. By attaching the hose to the bulldozer, the water can penetrate the mound of garbage while the layers are being moved,” said Chief Fire Officer P Rahangdale. The fire brigade has attached the hoses to six bulldozers and fire officials are confident of this approach being more effective.
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Apart from the seven regular fire engines, the BMC has sent 10 de-comissioned fire engines, which will be posted at the dumping ground. “Two filling points have been created inside the dumping ground where fibre tanks have been placed on the ground. The private tankers are carrying water from the Ashis Talav and emptying it into the tanks,” said Rahangdale. He added that apart from the 20 private water tankers, an additional four tankers have been filled and stationed at the spot in case of an emergency.
A series of pocket fires have been breaking out at the dumping ground since March 19 and the fire brigade is yet to gain control over it. A fresh pocket fire broke out on March 27 at around 11 am following which the cooling operations continued on Monday. In the last week, the fire brigade consumed over 14.4 lakh litres of potable water for fire-fighting purposes at Deonar alone. Fire officials have created six zones on the dumping ground and designated fire engines on need-basis. Though 42 fire officials have been deployed, each fire engine will be manned by two officials.
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