20220210 Major fire breaks out at Kinfra Park
India Feb 10 2022 “Building” “Factories”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Major fire breaks out at Kinfra Park
Updated: 2022-02-10
KOCHI: In an unprecedented incident in Kochi, at least 67 firefighters were admitted to Government Medical College (GMC), Ernakulam, after they suffered burning sensation and breathing difficulties while putting out a major fire that broke out at an industrial unit in Kinfra Industrial Park at Kalamassery on Wednesday.
However, the firemen, in a massive operation which lasted for more than seven hours, could extinguish the fire thereby averting a major casualty.
According to sources with the fire and rescue department, more than 100 firefighters suffered from breathing difficulties and burning sensation. While 67 persons were admitted to GMC, some other officials didn’t go to the hospital.
Condition of all the firefighters is stable, said hospital sources.
The fire broke out in a factory where extract from the spices are manufactured.
“It was around 6.30am that the employees who were working in the factory noticed the fire. There were three employees in the factory while the fire occurred,” said district fire officer A F Jogy. “Immediately, units from Eloor and Thrikkakara rushed to the spot. More firefighters and equipment from the neighbouring areas were mobilized. The fire which started in the factory soon spread to the storage area. It was where extracts in the form of oil were kept in barrels. Under the impact of the heat, these barrels exploded resulting in further fuelling of fire. It was an unprecedented situation. We moved closer to the fire and engaged in all out measures to put out the fire. It was during this stage that many of us suffered suffocation and burning sensation due to the impact of the chemicals, fume and smoke,” Jogy, who also was admitted to the hospital, said.
“Our technical director M Noushad arrived from Thiruvananthapuram and gave instructions,” he said.
Around 180 firefighters from various fire stations in Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Thrissur toiled it out before extinguishing the fire by 2pm.
“We don’t know whether there were adequate firefighting facilities in the unit. The management of the factory said that there were all required facilities,” an official with the fire and rescue services said.
“We started firefighting using the facilities in the neighbouring industrial unit in the Kinfra Park. There were 37 fire engines involved in the mission. All tankers were filled with water. Besides the water, foam in 20 litre cans were also brought in from all the fire stations. We almost put out the fire by around 10am,” the official said.
“It was then a few barrels exploded. When spices are distilled, there would be contents of spirit in it. This caused uncontrolled fire and fumes spread all over the area. Though it was nearing noon, the atmosphere was like that at 7pm,” the official said.
Officials with the Kinfra said that they extended all the support to the fire and rescue services.
“We have given instructions to the managements of industrial units in the park to impart training on firefighting,” an official with Kinfra Park said.
Web Source: The Times of India