Fire Engulfs Kamrangirchar Shoe Factory

A fire broke out at a shoe factory in the Madbar Bazar area of Kamrangirchar in the capital on Friday afternoon, prompting an emergency response from the Fire Service and Civil Defence. Two firefighting units were deployed to the scene and immediately began efforts to bring the blaze under control, while officials worked to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby structures.

According to the Fire Service, the incident was reported at 3:12 pm on Friday, 17 July. Emergency crews responded promptly and launched firefighting operations shortly after arriving at the factory. At the time of reporting, the operation was still ongoing, and authorities had not yet confirmed the cause of the fire, the extent of the damage, or whether there had been any casualties.

The blaze caused concern among residents and business owners in the surrounding neighbourhood. As thick smoke rose from the factory premises, local people moved to safer locations and assisted emergency personnel by keeping access routes clear, allowing firefighters to continue their work without obstruction.

Fire Service duty officer Rozina Khanom said that two firefighting units were dispatched immediately after the emergency call was received regarding the fire at the shoe manufacturing facility in Kamrangirchar. She confirmed that firefighters were continuing their efforts to contain the flames but stressed that it was too early to determine how the fire had started.

She added that there was no verified information regarding injuries, fatalities or the financial losses caused by the incident. A comprehensive assessment would only be possible once the fire had been fully extinguished and the affected premises had been examined by the relevant officials.

Factories involved in footwear production often store large quantities of combustible materials, including leather, synthetic leather, rubber, adhesives, solvents, foam, fabrics and various industrial chemicals. Many of these materials can ignite easily and allow flames to spread rapidly, making firefighting operations significantly more challenging. Because of these risks, firefighters are required to exercise additional caution when tackling industrial fires of this nature.

Under standard operating procedures, the Fire Service will conduct a detailed post-incident investigation after the blaze has been completely extinguished. Investigators will examine the scene to identify the source of the fire, determine how it spread and estimate the overall extent of the damage. If necessary, other relevant government agencies may also participate in the investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Residents in the area expressed hope that firefighters would be able to contain the blaze quickly and minimise potential losses. They also expect that the findings of the official investigation will help authorities strengthen fire safety measures in similar industrial facilities, reducing the risk of comparable incidents in the future.

As of the time this report was prepared, firefighting operations were still in progress. The Fire Service said a full official statement, including details of the fire’s cause, damage assessment and any casualties, would be released after the emergency response had been completed.