“We have done more to upgrade the force in the last two years than we did in my 24 years in the service before that," says Rahangdale, who assumed his post last year. Increasing recruitment has been a primary concern, which is why the Mumbai fire brigade has recruited 774 people into the force this year alone—a big jump from previous years. To this end, the few women recruited to the force before this summer may have been a useful pilot scheme. When Bhor and Patil were recruited, their male trainers had to grapple with designing their training to match that of male cadets, while accommodating gender differences sensitively. Now, men and women train in mixed groups or in close proximity and conduct practice drills together. Every station in Mumbai, say Rahangdale and Sangale, is ready with new infrastructure for women staff, from changing rooms to restrooms. “I even considered an all-woman station," Rahangdale says. “But you need both men and women on a team."