Karachi: After several hours of hard work, more than a dozen fire tenders extinguished the massive fire that broke out in a foam manufacturing factory located in Pak Colony on Friday afternoon.
Thick smoke emanating from the fire engulfed the area, causing breathing problems to residents.
Officials said that the fire started around 2.20 pm at the factory located in Lashari Mohalla, Jehanabad. Seeing the magnitude of the fire, firefighters declared it a third-degree fire and more fire tenders were called from across the metropolis to control it.
Chief fire officer Mubeen Ahmed said it was a foam and mattress manufacturing factory next to a clothing warehouse located in a congested neighbourhood.
As the fire was progressing towards the clothing warehouse, firefighters cut it down to prevent further spread.
“There was no fire fighting system, apart from that the roads/roads were overcrowded, making it difficult to control,” Mr. Ahmed said.
He said that more than a dozen fire engines of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and an equal number of water bowers were used to douse the fire.
However, the fire was brought under control and the cooling work was going on till late evening.
Regarding the reason, the Chief Fire Officer said that the main reason for the fire in the industrial units was the lack of fire safety measures.
The financial loss has not been assessed yet. Kemari-SSP Fida Hussain Janwari said they have evacuated the industrial unit and no one was hurt.
The officer said they were waiting for the report of the firemen to proceed legally.
However, a spokesperson for the Edhi Foundation said 22-year-old Bilal fainted after inhaling the fumes and hit his head against the wall.
Published in Dawn, May 28, 2022