2,900 calls a year to fire brigade,over half not related to fire

Ranpise added,“This is because our basic training includes handling different types of emergencies. But it should be made clear that we are not experts in handling all kinds of emergencies. For example,in case of snakes we take help from snake experts.”

After low lying areas in Pune were flooded following heavy rain and water discharge on September 1,it was fire brigade personnel who along with police and PMC staff carried out the evacuation work. Ranpise said,“For two days after that we were helping people in removing mud water from houses.”

It has been observed that the fire brigade gets a large number of calls about lubricant or fuel spread on roads causing vehicles to skid. “Our teams then sprinkle dry soil on it and the mass is removed. Keeping this is mind,the state government will also give special funds to handle non-fire and accident cases.”

Ranpise said the fire brigade personnel need to get intensive training in handling each of the specific cases.

Describing a call which he felt no one would believe,a fire officer said,“About eight months ago we got a call from Dahanukar Colony and the female voice at the other end said her pet dog had locked the door and was not allowing her to open it. We thought it was a prank but it was true. The dog had actually latched the door and whenever the woman tried to open,it would bark furiously. We broke the door and took her out.”