120610 India Fire engulfs Kanpur’s aerodrome complex near ammunition dump
India Jun 09 2012 “Building” “Warehouses”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Fire engulfs Kanpur’s aerodrome complex near ammunition dump
Updated: 2012-06-11-06:25
KANPUR: A dangerous situation was averted in the highly sensitive zone at Kanpur Aerodrome complex when a major fire erupted in the thick dry vegetation located close to ammunition storage area on Sunday afternoon. The flames engulfed an area of around 5 sq km. Truckloads of ammunition were swiftly removed to safer places.
The fire, which occurred at around 12 noon continued for nearly two hours before it was doused by the army personnel and fire brigade personnel. More than half-a-dozen fire tenders the Army and district fire department were pressed into service. The operation was led by Brigadier J S Khera.
Station commander of the aerodrome said that as soon as the flames were noticed, the authorities were informed about the incident. The Army and district fire department were alerted. The blaze was brought under control by around 2pm.
The fire did not cause injuries but due to strong winds, it engulfed nearly an area of approximately five square kilometres covered with thick shrubs and bushes close to the ammunition dump. “A major threat to life and property was averted as the spot was near the ammunition dump. The entire fire-fighting machinery of the Army was activated to battle the blaze. Measures involving loading and shifting truckloads of ammunition from the affected site to safer locations were carried out swiftly to avoid any eventuality,” Brigadier Khera said while talking to TOI.
The reason behind the fire could not be ascertained, said a senior official.
“We received the call at around 12 pm and fire tenders from almost all fire stations including, Meerpur Cantt fire station, were rushed there. It was a major fire and also the site is near to ammunition dump, therefore we arranged the maximum numbers of fire tenders from various fire stations and the situation is now almost under control,” a senior fire official said.
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Web Source: The Times of India
Date: 10 June, 2012
Country: India