Firefighters battle 358 blaze calls on Diwali night

Firefighters of the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) were kept on their toes throughout Diwali night, responding to 358 fire-related calls between Sunday evening and 6 am on Monday. Officials confirmed that despite the high volume of emergency calls, no major incidents or injuries were reported.

According to DFS data, the department had received 269 distress calls—288 of them fire-related—by midnight. The total rose to 399 calls, including 358 fire-related incidents, by 6 am on Monday. Among these, 122 were attributed to firecrackers.

“We were already prepared for the calls and firefighters, fire-tenders were kept on alert and ready at all fire stations and hotspots,” said a senior DFS official. According to DFS, 17 water tenders were deployed at key places such as Lajpat Nagar central market, Lahori Gate, Gandhi Nagar market, Tilak Nagar South extension and Azadpur among other locations from 5 pm till midnight on October 19 and 20.

A total of 24 quick reaction vehicles were also deployed at Mehrauli, Lajpat Nagar market, Sonia Vihar, Main bazaar Paharganj, Khari Bawli, Sadar Bazar and Pul Bangash Azad Market.