A fire erupted in an open area behind a restaurant located within Pune's Silver Oak Cooperative Housing Society in Kalyaninagar on Friday morning, subsequently spreading to the eatery's external chimney structure. Fire brigade officials have stated that the blaze did not originate inside the restaurant's kitchen, and fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident.
Timeline and Origin of the Kalyaninagar Fire
The incident occurred between 10:15 am and 10:30 am. According to fire brigade personnel, the fire initially ignited in waste and scrap material that was stored in the narrow space separating the residential building from the restaurant. "There was waste material kept behind the restaurant. The fire appears to have started there and then spread to the restaurant's external chimney," explained a fire brigade official.
The official further clarified that an internal kitchen fire was ruled out. "If the fire had started inside the restaurant, the kitchen, gas pipeline or internal ducting would have been completely burnt. That was not the case. The fire seems to have spread from outside to the chimney," he stated, highlighting the external origin.
Eyewitness Accounts and Immediate Response
Mahesh Dhage, the secretary of Silver Oak Cooperative Housing Society, reported that residents first noticed smoke and promptly evacuated the building as a safety measure. "We saw smoke coming from the duct area and alerted the fire brigade. Society members also helped in controlling the fire. Some external AC units were damaged," Dhage said. He added that the initial alert to the fire department was made by a customer who was inside the restaurant when the fire began.
However, Dhage's account slightly differed regarding the point of origin, suggesting the fire started inside the restaurant before spreading to the society premises via the duct housing the kitchen chimney.
Restaurant Owner's Statement and Investigation
Restaurant owner Abdul Salam supported the fire brigade's initial assessment, asserting that the fire began outside his premises. He pointed to an empty space behind the restaurant where waste material from nearby renovation work, including old sofas and scrap, had been stored. "The fire seems to have started there and then spread inside through the chimney," Salam said. He noted that the exact cause—whether a carelessly discarded cigarette or an electrical short circuit—remains unclear and under investigation.
Following the incident, teams from the fire brigade and the Ramwadi police station visited the spot to carry out a detailed inspection and ascertain the definitive cause of the fire.
