High-rise boom, weak safety: Corporators flag deficiencies following visit to Thane Fire Station

Thane: As residential towers in Thane continue to rise skyward, with several under-construction projects soon touching 50 storeys and more, activists and political leaders warn that Thane’s fire safety infrastructure remains dangerously under-equipped, raising serious concerns over emergency response readiness.

A review of the Thane Fire Brigade’s staffing highlights the extent of the apparent strain, with just 174 personnel working against a sanctioned strength of 835. This shortfall comes even as the city’s population is estimated at nearly 25 lakh. Activists also point out that only eight of the required 14 fire stations are fully operational, leaving clear gaps in emergency coverage across the city.

The issue has come under sharper scrutiny following the recent Gaondevi market blaze, which left a fireman and a civic security guard dead and three others injured, intensifying questions over fire safety preparedness in both residential and commercial zones.

Thane BJP corporators conducted a visit to the Anandnagar-Owala fire station on Monday and flagged what they called serious deficiencies in manpower and equipment at the facility serving the rapidly expanding Ghodbunder Road corridor.

“The fire station is operating with just one 500-litre Quick Response Vehicle, three firemen and a single driver since its inauguration three years ago. Despite being a multi-crore facility meant to serve hundreds of high-rises, it remains grossly underutilised and depends on reinforcements from Balkum, delaying response times by up to 45 minutes,” said BJP corporators Manohar Dumbare and Anita Thakur.

Residents too cited past incidents where delayed response is believed to have worsened fire damage. “Recently, a fire broke out in a high-rise in Bhayandarpada. The fire brigade reached nearly 45 minutes late due to traffic congestion. Though the blaze was controlled using in-house systems, the affected flat was completely gutted,” said BJP district vice-president Ram Thakur.

The ongoing water crisis is also proving to be a challenge in certain societies where residents end up draining out the reserve tanks meant for fire-fighting. A municipal rescue operation staffer requesting anonymity points out how a prominent complex within the Majiwada-Manpada ward committee limits drained out its reserve tank during a shortage period a few months back, leading to the fire-fighting team facing a huge challenge after a fire broke out on one of the upper floors.

Acting chief fire officer Girish Jhalke confirmed the staffing gaps, stating that 658 posts are vacant and recruitment is pending. “We are operating under constraints but responding with available resources. Once recruitment is completed, all stations, including Owala, will be fully functional. We are also conducting inspections and advising housing societies to comply with fire safety norms,” he said.