A major fire broke out in the main market area of Dapoli, causing significant damage and raising serious concerns about local emergency preparedness. According to initial reports, the blaze engulfed at least three shops, destroying property and goods worth lakhs. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported in the incident. The shops caught fire on April 4, around 11 pm. Authorities confirmed that the fire has now been brought under control after prompt efforts by locals and available resources, preventing it from spreading further in the densely packed market area.
The incident triggered strong reactions from residents, with one citizen highlighting a long-standing issue regarding the lack of a functional fire brigade in the town. In a post addressed to Manuj Jindal, IAS officer and Collector of Ratnagiri, the citizen alleged that despite the existence of a fire brigade facility in Dapoli, it has remained non-operational for years and lacks trained personnel. As a result, locals were forced to rely on water from their homes and nearby sources to douse the flames, exposing glaring gaps in emergency response infrastructure.
X handle @fuzailkazi_ posted on the microblogging site, "Hello @manujjindalIAS sir, A major fire at yesterday exposed a serious issue in Dapoli though a fire brigade exists in , it has been out of service for years, with no trained firefighters. Citizens had to rely on water from their homes. Request urgent action to restore and equip the fire brigade."
Responding swiftly to the concerns, Manuj Jindal assured action, stating that an immediate audit of all fire brigades and compliance mechanisms across Ratnagiri district will be initiated. His response has brought some relief to residents, who have long demanded better-equipped firefighting systems in the region. The administration is now expected to assess the condition of existing facilities and take corrective steps to prevent such risks in the future.
In another fire incident reported last year, on August 24, officials reported that a luxury bus travelling from Mumbai to Malvan caught fire close to Kashedi Ghat in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. The bus was travelling through the Kashedi tunnel region when the tragedy happened at around two in the morning. When one of the bus's tires overheated and caught fire, there were between forty and forty-five people inside. The driver saw the fire early and informed the passengers before it spread to the entire car. They prevented a catastrophic disaster by evacuating the passengers before the bus was totally destroyed. The event did not result in any passenger injuries. The fire ruined their possessions. Traffic on both sides of the roadway was stopped by the police.