Rawalpindi textile factory blaze stopped after 16 hours of firefighting

Rescue officials say cooling continues as cracks appear in three-storey building, crews fight from a safe distance

RAWALPINDI:

A major fire at a garment and textile factory and its warehouse in Rawalpindi’s Rawat Industrial Estate has been brought under control after a firefighting operation lasting around 16 hours, rescue officials said on Tuesday, with cooling work still underway.

However, fires are still flaring up occasionally, and smoke can still be seen.

Rescue officials said crews had been battling the blaze since it was reported at about 4pm on Monday, and Rescue Rawalpindi spokesperson Usman Gujjar warned the three-storey structure developed cracks after hours of intense heat, raising fears of collapse. Firefighters continued parts of the operation from a safe distance because of the risk.

Gujjar said, “According to the SOPs, the cooling process will continue until the factory is completely cleared."

He also said the presence of a large quantity of flammable material inside the factory made extinguishing the fire difficult, for which foam-mixed water was used continuously. More than 400,000 litres of water and foam were used to put out the fire, he said.

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According to him, more than 80 personnel and 21 emergency vehicles took part in the response, with fire tenders and crews called in from neighbouring districts to support the effort.

The factory and warehouse cover roughly four kanals, and the warehouse reportedly contained significant stocks of imported polyester quilts, prayer mats and other textile goods, contributing to the intensity of the blaze.

A statement from the Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) spokesperson said that an uninterrupted water supply was being ensured for the firefighting operations, and the agency's resources were being fully utilised for the purpose.

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In the statement, WASA Managing Director Muhammad Saleem Ashraf said that 15 of the agency's and 10 private tankers were being used in the operation.

Rawat Station House Officer Inspector Zahid Zahoor said two security guards were on duty at the time of the fire, one at the front and one at the rear gate, and both were unharmed. He added that the cause of the fire was not yet known, and an investigation was underway.

Zahoor, along with other Rawalpindi police officers, is on site, and Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Sibghatullah is supervising the operation.