KOCHI: The Fire Force personnel had a tough time dousing the waste heap fire that engulfed parts of the waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram on Saturday morning. The thick cover of smoke from the spot spread to a radius of about 25 kilometres in the city, said officials.
Over 15 fire tenders battling to douse the fire stopped the operation temporarily at 8.30 p.m. on Saturday due to low light. The operation will restart on Sunday morning. According to officials, it may take one more day to completely douse the fire.
District collector Muhammad Y. Safirullah ordered an inquiry into the fire following the allegation by Mayor Soumini Jain that it was caused by arson and foul play. “The fire did not just start from one point. Many parts of the garbage area were on fire at the same time. We suspect a foul play behind the incident,” said Ms. Jain.
The collector said that police had been directed to conduct an inquiry into the matter. Meanwhile, the revenue minister has asked the collector to submit a report on the fire. The collector told the media that steps will be taken and formal directions had been given to the respective authorities.
WAREHOUSE ON FIRE: A major fire broke out in a paint warehouse at Thuv-vakkad near Edavanna in Malappuram district on Saturday afternoon. Although no causalties were reported, the fire and rescue services officials and the local police evacuated 10 families from the vicinity. The fire was noticed in the two-storied building around 3 p.m. accompanied by sounds of explosion.
Unconfirmed reports said the fire originated from one of the two trucks parked on the premises of the building. The trucks were completely gutted. According to eyewitnesses, the warehouse was having huge quantities of paint and thinners which are highly inflammable.
Four men, who were working in the warehouse when the mishap took place, managed to escape. Short circuit caused the fire, it is suspected.
Fire fighters from Malappuram, Nilambur, Thiruvali, Manjeri, Mannarkkad and Mukkam and fire engines from Calicut International Airport were rushed to the sport. Nearly 150 firemen and 10 fire engines took part in the operations.
