The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) has commenced its annual Fire Service Week on April 14, which is rooted in the tragic events of the 1944 Bombay Dock Disaster. On that fateful day, two catastrophic explosions occurred at Victoria Dock, resulting in 740 deaths and injuring around 1,800 people. The British cargo vessel SS Fort Stikine, which had arrived with a hazardous mix of cargo, including 1,400 tonnes of explosives, was at the center of the disaster. The explosions, occurring at 4:06 pm and 4:41 pm, devastated the area, destroying at least 27 ships and leaving behind a massive cleanup operation that lasted months. This year’s Fire Service Week theme, “safe schools, safe hospitals, safe society,” aims to enhance awareness around fire safety and resilience. In Mumbai, the MFB is conducting awareness drives at 35 fire stations and has showcased a restored vehicle-mounted turntable ladder, which played a crucial role during the rescue efforts in 1944. The vehicle symbolizes the bravery of the firefighters who responded to the disaster, helping to save over 100 workers trapped in the chaos.