Factory fire brought to heel after eight-hour battle

An eight-hour battle against a raging inferno at a garment factory in the city's Site area ended late Monday night, with firefighters bringing the third-degree blaze under control after flames ravaged the building's upper floors, destroyed stored goods and left the structure precariously weakened. A massive emergency response involving more than a dozen fire tenders, water bowsers, snorkels and Pakistan Navy personnel was mounted to contain the fire, while authorities ordered an investigation into its cause and a review of fire safety arrangements in industrial areas.

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan said the fire was brought under control around 9:15pm, although cooling operations were expected to continue for several hours.

"More than a dozen fire tenders, three snorkels and two water bowsers participated in the rescue operation. All goods located on the second and third floors were destroyed in the blaze," he said.

Khan said a fire tender from the Pakistan Navy also took part in the operation. Plastic rolls were stored across all three floors, while dense smoke inside the premises made firefighting difficult.

He warned that the intensity of the fire had weakened the building, leaving the structure in a precarious condition. Firefighters used foam and water to contain the flames.

The fire was classified as a third-degree blaze to mobilise all relevant departments and ensure the immediate provision of resources. Earlier, the corporation had deployed 11 fire tenders and two water bowsers as teams battled the flames from both inside and outside the building.

Fire brigade officials at the site told The Express Tribune that they faced difficulties due to a shortage of water. The fire had spread to the factory's second and third floors, where combustible materials, including cardboard, wood, thread, garments, foam and plastic, were stored.

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) activated additional hydrants to maintain water supplies for the operation. Focal person to the chief executive officer for the Hydrants Cell Shahbaz Bashir said approximately 300,000 gallons had been supplied to firefighting teams.

Of this quantity, 210,000 gallons came from Crush Plant Hydrants I and II, 40,000 gallons from Nipa, 35,000 gallons from Sakhi Hassan and 12,000 gallons from Safoora. KWSC spokesperson Qadir Sheikh had earlier reported that around 150,000 gallons had been supplied, with another 40,000 gallons kept on standby. The corporation said emergency arrangements were made on the directives of CEO Ahmed Ali Siddiqui to ensure uninterrupted water supplies until the operation was completed.

Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had directed the administration and rescue authorities to mobilise additional resources, bring the fire under control and protect nearby buildings.

The chief minister also sought a detailed report from the Karachi commissioner and the Industries Department, ordering a prompt and thorough investigation into the cause of the fire. He further directed the authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of fire safety arrangements in industrial areas to help prevent similar incidents in the future.