Pune: At Pune Fire Department headquarters in Ganj Peth near Timber Market, Ganeshotsav this year comes with a distinctly firefighting touch. A miniature fire engine crafted by department personnel has been turned into a shrine for Ganeshotsav, with the Ganapati idol placed inside the replica vehicle.For firefighters who spend their shifts responding to emergencies across the city, the installation is also a reminder of the department’s long history and the legacy they have become a part of. An information board alongside the idol traces the Pune Fire Department’s history to 1856, while displays around the headquarters bring together photographs, newspaper clippings and information about firefighting vehicles and rescue operations carried out over the years.“There is a lot of history behind this department, and we wanted the festival display to reflect that. It is a way of bringing our own story into the celebrations,” said fire officer Nilesh Mahajan.The information board is more than a backdrop to the festive installation. “It connects the firefighters working at the headquarters today with the evolution of firefighting in the city, tracing how the department and its equipment have changed over the decades. Some of that history is preserved at Late Keshavrao Narayanrao Jagtap Fire Brigade Museum in Erandwane, which records the formation of the Pune Fire Brigade as early as 1844,” said Mahajan.The museum’s collection traces the progression from hand-pulled carriages carrying water tanks to horse-drawn equipment and, later, motorised fire tenders. Manual engines were used in Pune until 1914, while two land steam engines were acquired in 1912-13. The department’s history also includes equipment that became part of the city’s firefighting legacy, including a Rolls-Royce Dennis fire engine bought in 1956 and later used during rescue operations following the 1961 Panshet dam disaster. The vehicle is now preserved at the museum.At the headquarters, meanwhile, the festival is bringing together the department’s present-day personnel and their families. “On Thursday, firefighters and their families also gathered at the headquarters for a mahaprasad and spent time together. They really appreciated the setup,” said Mahajan.“Firefighting is a 24-hour service, so everyone cannot celebrate together at the same time. Morning and evening aarti give personnel across shifts an opportunity to participate,” he added.
