Fireman killed in cardboard factory blaze

KARACHI:

A fire broke out at a cardboard manufacturing unit in Ahsanabad. Fire Safety Officer, Meraj, told The Express Tribune that the fire had engulfed the three-storey factory.

A firefighter, who was on his weekly off, died in the operation. He had responded to the emergency call because he lived nearby.

During the firefighting operation, due to the intensity of the fire, an iron rod broke through a wall and struck a volunteer Bilal Tanoli. According to Rescue 1122 officials, Bilal was rushed to hospital in critical condition where he succumbed to his injuries.

Bilal, 24, was stationed at the Satellite Station M-9. Officials stated that the martyred worker was off-duty today. Bilal lived in Ahsanabad, near the site of the fire, and upon witnessing the emergency situation, he joined the rescue operation on his own.

A fire brigade team had been dispatched, however, considering the intensity of the blaze, additional vehicles including eight fire tenders, two bowsers, as well as snorkel equipment, were deployed to combat the fire. Water tankers were also provided by KWSC.

The factory sat on a plot spanning over 2,500 yards, and the fire was so intense that the fire brigade had to spray water from various parts of the building, including windows, to control it. After a two-hour struggle, the fire was finally controlled by the fire brigade team with the help of five vehicles.