Mumbai Logs 5,301 Fire Incidents in 2024, 227 More Than Last Year

Mumbai has seen a rise in fire incidents in 2024, with 5,301 cases happening between January and December, compared to 5,074 in 2023. Data from the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) shows an increase of 227 cases. 

As per the report, officials and activists have blamed weak inspections and lack of fire safety compliance. MFB data shows that 5,228 “stop” fire calls were recorded in 2024, compared to 4,993 in 2023. Stop calls are minor fires that are extinguished before the fire department arrives. 

Level 1 fire cases were slightly lower in 2024, with 55 compared to 57 in 2023. Level 2 calls dropped from 14 to 13. Level 3 calls fell from nine to four. Only one Level 4 fire occurred in both years.

Yesterday only, March 9, a fire broke out in Goregaon East, where several shops and cottages were affected. The fire started in the ground-floor structures. At 7:08 pm, MFB declared it a Level 1 (small) fire. By 7:15 pm, it was upgraded to Level 2 (moderate). No injuries were reported.

Another fire occurred in Andheri early Sunday morning. It broke out at Sher-E-Punjab Society near Takshila Gurudwara. The MFB received a call at 12:35 a.m. and responded quickly. Firefighters brought it under control by 1:34 am.

The fire was caused by a leaking Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) Piped Natural Gas (PNG) pipeline. Three people suffered burn injuries.

Sources suggest that MFB inspections need improvement. However, the department faces a manpower shortage. There are 160 officer positions, but more are needed. Officers handle both inspections and emergency responses, making it difficult to manage all duties.

The lack of fire safety awareness has also been reported. As per sources, Mumbai has nearly 50,000 buildings, but MFB lacks staff for regular inspections. Housing societies are required to conduct fire audits every six months.

However, many do not follow the rule. Fire safety systems often fail, and security staff are not properly trained. Many ignore exposed wires or faulty electrical fixtures.

Experts suggest using digital tools to improve compliance. They recommend an online system where buildings can submit fire audit reports. BMC could also issue show-cause notices online to violators.