Fire at Chawkbazar market under control, four firefighters injured

The fire at Mansur Khan Plaza in the capital’s Chawkbazar area is now under control, but firefighters are continuing efforts to extinguish it completely by removing goods stored in the warehouses, Fire Service and Civil Defence Assistant Director Kazi Nazmuzaman said on Tuesday.

He said the sixth floor of the building was the worst affected, while the seventh floor sustained minor damage. Four firefighters were injured while tackling the blaze.

Speaking at a briefing at the site on Tuesday morning, Nazmuzaman said the Fire Service received information about the fire at 5:04pm on Monday and immediately dispatched six units from Lalbagh, the headquarters at Siddikbazar and Palashi.

Firefighters found heavy smoke and intense heat on the sixth and seventh floors upon reaching the building.

The warehouses on the sixth floor were secured with shutters and multiple locks, with each warehouse having four to five locks. The cross gates inside were also locked, forcing firefighters to cut through the locks while working amid intense heat and smoke, he said.

The fire was brought under control at 5:20am on Tuesday, he added.

Nazmuzaman said traffic congestion and the narrow roads of Chawkbazar delayed the arrival of fire engines. The lack of adequate ventilation to release smoke from the sixth and seventh floors also made firefighting difficult.

Another challenge was the shortage of water as nearby water reservoirs were running low. Firefighters had to change pumps and reservoirs and collect water from other sources to continue the operation, he said.

Although there is no fire inside the building at present, firefighters are removing fire-damaged goods and spraying water to ensure the blaze is completely extinguished.

“Unless the goods are removed, it will not be possible to extinguish the fire completely, as heat and smoke trapped beneath them could cause the fire to reignite,” he said, adding that six units were still working at the scene.

Nazmuzaman said the sixth floor houses 12 to 14 large warehouses, seven to eight of which caught fire. The warehouses contained umbrellas, cosmetics, perfume bottles and attar, among other goods. As the warehouses were full of merchandise, removing the goods and ensuring complete extinguishment were taking time.

He said the extent of financial losses could be determined by the owners after an assessment.

The cause of the fire could not yet be established as the extinguishing operation was still underway. A probe committee would be formed to determine the cause, he said.

Although an electrical short circuit could be a possible cause as the building has electrical connections, no one interviewed so far could confirm how the fire started. The actual cause would be known after an investigation, he added.

Nazmuzaman said the fire threatened to spread to three or four adjoining markets connected to Mansur Khan Plaza, as well as nearby buildings and shops. However, firefighters worked hard to prevent the blaze from spreading and causing extensive damage to the surrounding markets.

He said the entire market had not been damaged as feared, with the impact largely confined to the sixth floor and minor damage reported on the seventh floor.

Around 100 to 150 personnel were involved in the operation. Due to the intense heat and smoke, firefighters were rotated after working for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, he said.

Market volunteers, local residents, police and other agencies assisted in the operation, while the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) supplied water.

Highlighting the challenges of fighting fires in densely populated and busy commercial areas like Chawkbazar, Nazmuzaman stressed the need to widen roads and introduce a hydrant system.

He suggested that the Dhaka city corporation authorities take steps to establish hydrants through WASA, allowing firefighters to connect delivery pipes at designated points and access water quickly during emergencies.

Asked why water was being used to extinguish the fire, he said it was a Class A or solid-material fire, for which water was the most suitable extinguishing agent. Foam would be used in cases involving petrol stations or other fuel fires, he added.

Nazmuzaman said firefighters had worked under extremely challenging conditions amid intense heat and smoke, applying established firefighting techniques to extinguish the blaze while minimising injuries. -UNB