In Hinjewadi, residents use DIY tactics to fight off fires

Residents’ groups and tree plantation owners in Hinjewadi are preparing DIY fire beaters to ensure the quick dousing of any fire that may break out in the hills surrounding the area this summer.

Many said they are collecting jute or gunny bags and other materials to combat what they said were frequent bushfires in the area.



“Multiple groups have become involved in the activity. Residents are collecting gunny bags and fire hoses to prevent the spread of fire in the hills,” said Ravindra Sinha, a member of the Hinjewadi IT Residents’ Welfare Association (HIRWA).

Fire beaters are made using jute bags attached to bamboo sticks or fire hoses with metal wires.

According to the citizen first responders, the jute bags are first dipped in water before they are used to douse flames.

“On grasslands, flames need to be smothered using branches of trees. You need to cut the supply of oxygen to

put out the flames. The fire beaters will cut off oxygen and effectively stop a blaze from spreading,” a resident said.

The response plan was set in place after a grassland fire broke out in the hills in Hinjewadi last week.

“Miscreants have been starting fires on these hills for the past several years. We have informed the fire department as well as the forest authorities. When the fire broke out last week, we called the fire brigade. And that’s when we saw personnel from the fire brigade using branches from trees and fire beaters to put out the blaze,” said Pushkar Kulkarni, a member of Vasundhara Swachata Abhiyan.

According to Kulkarni, the possession of fire dousing equipment will also take some load off the fire department, which has been frequently battling fires on hills across Hinjewadi.

“After the last fire, we felt we needed to have our own firefighting equipment. The equipment will be kept at all the residential societies located in the foothills. Residents and security guards can use the equipment to douse any fire they spot on the grasslands,” he said.

Having made 15 fire beaters, the Hinjewadi Green Army Group is collecting more gunny bags to have sufficient fire beaters at their disposal.

“Last week’s fire raged for almost the entire day. We had no choice but to intervene. The fire brigade will always receive an alert from us, but these DIY fire beaters can allow residents to act as the first responders at a site,” said Bhavesh Karekar from the group.

Wildfires in the city have not been limited to the dry grass on Hinjewadi’s hills.

In Baner, resident Shouvik Datta told TOI that a blaze was spotted near a hillslope along the Baner Hill Trail Road. But prevailing weather conditions, Datta said, were not to blame. “This is where Sus Road meets Baner. Burning of garbage triggered this fire. I can still see smoke coming from the site,” Datta said.

He added that informal settlements, located near the foothills, were setting their refuse on fire.

“This burning of garbage is a problem that has been continuing for the past several months. Lots of waste is being dumped at this particular spot. I hope the civic authorities respond before the problem gets worse for residents here,” Datta said.