Striving for a Fire-Safe Society

It is said that the more knowledge you share, the more you gain. For Vijay Chavan, a fireman from Pune Municipal Corporation’s Fire Department, knowledge is an asset that makes him a master of his work. Being in the profession of firefighting for 13 years, he is devotedly spreading the word about easy and basic firefighting techniques that can save people from getting trapped in any unfortunate fire incident. Over a decade now, after completing his duty hours, he is actively conducting fire safety workshops. He humbly shares his passion for doing good for people in any way he can

A profession by chance

Becoming a firefighter was not Vijay’s dream. It was his elder brother who got him into this career. After completing 12th class, Vijay planned to prepare for police training. However, his brother, who was staying in a hostel with two firefighting trainers, found their training adventurous and asked Vijay to try his luck in the fire brigade. Vijay said, “I did not know the level of risk this field involved when I first went for training, but it excited me”.

After completing firefighting training in 2002, it took Vijay nine years to finally join the fire brigade. “Those nine years were financially arduous, so I worked as a bus conductor in Pune Municipal Transport and as a security guard, just to make ends meet. In 2011, I finally got the call from the fire department of the Pune Municipal Corporation, and that's when my journey as a firefighter truly began," said Vijay.

Mission of bringing awareness

For Vijay, joining the fire brigade at Aundh Fire Brigade station, was exciting, although it was also challenging for him to relearn everything due to a gap in his firefighting training. His dedication motivated him to go through the process of learning.

Apart from his firefighting duties, Vijay was part of a team that used to train common people about fire safety. Every other day, the Pune Municipal Corporation used to send a team of firemen to different organisations and offices. The team educated employees about basic firefighting techniques such as using fire extinguishers, taking immediate actions to contain fire and rescuing people. “While training them, I realised that many people lack knowledge about dealing with firerelated incidents. Hence, I decided to share the basic firefighting knowledge so that the damage from the fire can be minimised," he said.

Community engagement

Vijay began his journey by hosting small workshops in societies and offices. Over a period of time his initiative started gaining momentum. He said, “Over a decade, I have conducted over 500 workshops by visiting societies and organisations within Pune district”. Vijay uses community engagement as a cornerstone to raise awareness about fire safety. He also participates in local events and public gatherings and communicates with people about the complex fire safety concept in simple terms.

Credit for achievements goes to...

When your family supports your cause, it makes you less worried about your work and allows you to remain dedicated to the welfare of society. Vijay received full support from his wife, Deepali Chavan. “I would not have reached this point without my wife’s unconditional support. She has stood by me through thick and thin. While she seamlessly manages everything at home, she has given me the freedom to focus on my work. She is not just my life partner but also my ally in my social work,” he said.

Vijay shares firefighting lessons with his wife, and she imparts those lessons wherever she goes. “She keeps encouraging me to aim for big accomplishments. She herself became an advocate and guided me through my own academic journey,” he added. Today, at the age of 46, Vijay is finally completing his graduation in BA.

Guiding lights

Vijay has now become a trusted public figure in society. People from all walks of life seek his advice. He said, “My inspiration comes from my seniors— the fearless, brave and optimistic people. I have seen them performing tasks, risking their lives and showing immense courage”.

The job of being a fireman demands courage because you never know if you will return from a fire rescue operation or not. And, Vijay gets this courage from his seniors, whom he saw getting injured or losing lives on duty.

The impact of fire safety education

Vijay works for long hours, conducting workshops and sessions to teach basic fire safety techniques. His tireless efforts has ultimately produced successful results. For example years back, he conducted a training workshop at Staco Company, where he taught the employees about the basic fire safety measures. Days after that workshop, a fire incident occurred at the company premises and the employees there called, thanking him for fire safety training he had imparted. He said, “My instructions helped them handle the situation effectively and saved them from a major fire incident”.

Sharing another incidence from AIMS Hospital, Pune, Vijay said, “My training helped the AIMS hospital staff extinguish the fire with wet clothes and minimise the damage from the fire incidence there."

Such appreciations, Vijay says, inspires him to work with double spirit.

Vision of a fire-safe society

Often, Vijay says, a big fire outbreak occurs due to small, unnoticed reasons, and even if it comes to notice, people may not know how to deal with the situation and end up making it worse. “I aim to take this initiative to the last man in society, and to achieve this, I am planning to set up a dedicated fire safety training centre after my retirement," he adds.

Vijay's vision is to run specialised fire safety programmes for different sectors and equip them with the knowledge and skills, to effectively respond to fire emergencies.

With every workshop Vijay conducts, he has witnessed people becoming more aware about fire safety. “By the time we receive a call about a fire and arrive at the scene, the locals have already put out the fire themselves. This shows that our society is becoming more aware, which is a positive sign,” he said. His hard work and dedication remind us of the importance of working together to create a safer world.

QUICK FIRE SAFETY TIPS FROM VIJAY

• For solid fire outbreaks, use water or a fire extinguisher.
• For liquid fires caused by petroleum or any flammable liquid substance, use dry chemical powder or sand.
• For electronic or metal fires, use carbon dioxide or dry chemical powder extinguisher.
• If dealing with an electric fire without appropriate equipment, use water in short bursts.
• Wet clothes suppress fire and minimise its impact.
• Foam also extinguishes fires