A major fire swept through an industrial area in Konabari of Gazipur Metropolitan City early on Thursday, destroying around 12 warehouses used to store garment scraps and other materials.
The fire broke out at around 5.30am at a scrap warehouse owned by Bachchu Mia in the Dewaliabari area under Konabari Metro Police Station. It spread rapidly to nearby warehouses, fuelled by the large quantities of combustible scrap and other stored materials. Within a short time, flames had engulfed around 12 warehouses, triggering panic among residents and people working in the area.
Local residents initially attempted to contain the blaze while alerting the fire service. Three units from the Konabari Fire Service station reached the scene after receiving the emergency call and immediately began efforts to bring the fire under control.
As the intensity of the blaze increased, two additional units from the Sarabo Fire Service station were brought in to assist. A total of five units worked for nearly two and a half hours before firefighters managed to bring the fire under control at around 8am.
Mohammad Saiful Islam, warehouse inspector at the Konabari Fire Service station in Gazipur Metropolitan City, said firefighters arrived at the scene after receiving information about the fire at around 5.30am.
He said the intensity of the blaze was high and strong winds made firefighting operations more difficult. Despite the challenging conditions, five fire service units continued their efforts and eventually brought the fire under control at around 8am.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, the official said. An investigation will be required to establish how the fire started and determine the actual extent of the damage.
No casualties have been reported so far. However, a substantial quantity of garment scraps and other materials stored inside the warehouses was destroyed in the fire.
Fire service officials said the full extent of the financial loss would be assessed after the affected warehouses and their contents had been examined. The investigation is also expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the outbreak.
The incident highlights the risks associated with fires in areas where large quantities of scrap and other combustible materials are stored. Once such materials catch fire, flames can spread quickly between closely situated storage facilities, making containment more difficult, particularly when strong winds are present.
In the Dewaliabari incident, the rapid spread of the blaze required additional firefighting units to be deployed. Although firefighters succeeded in preventing further escalation and brought the fire under control within the morning, the destruction of around 12 warehouses has left their owners facing significant material losses.
Authorities are yet to determine the precise cause of the fire and the value of the property and materials destroyed. Those details will become clearer once the investigation and damage assessment are completed.
