Mumbai, March 20 -- The Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) is stepping up security and fire prevention measures after a recent spate of forest fires and ongoing concerns over encroachments. The SGNP has witnessed a series of forest fires at multiple locations inside the park over the past few days. "Over 350 security guards from the Maharashtra State Security Corporation will be deployed to secure the SGNP, particularly near the boundary wall. This is in addition to the 42 forest guards who manage over 4,200 hectares (10,000 acres) of SGNP under my jurisdiction," Kiran Patil, deputy director (South) told HT. He also said they are trying to involve more citizens in preventing fires in the national park. Officials said several fire-prone spots have been identified and mapped to enable quicker and more targeted responses. The park also plans to set up a dedicated fire control team equipped with firefighting gear such as fireproof shoes, fire brooms and blowers, with wireless connectivity to ensure rapid coordination on the ground. "We are enhancing our response system and also trying to involve citizens in preventing fires," said Kiran Patil, deputy director (South), SGNP. As part of this effort, the forest department has created a WhatsApp group with residents living along the park's edge in areas like Kandivli and Malad, allowing them to directly alert officials in case of fire incidents. The move follows concerns raised by a group of over 30 residents and citizens, including runners, who recently met SGNP director Anita Patil seeking stronger action and a dedicated helpline to report fires. Residents had complained that the existing control room number was often inaccessible. "Following the Saturday's meeting, another fire was reported on Sunday night. Forest officials arrived quickly and located the cause of the fire very soon," said Sachin Chand, a resident of Highland Tower at Lokhandwala....