MAPUSA: Officials and staff of five fire stations had a tough time as the flames which erupted on Wednesday morning to a scrapyard at Colvale continued till Thursday night.
On Wednesday at around 11.15 am, a major fire broke out at an illegal scrapyard located at the Mushirwada-Colvale. The impact of the fire was such that within no time, the whole scrap was gutted in fire while the flames damaged the parts of surrounding premises. One of the workers also sustained 90 per cent burn injuries and is battling for life at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim.
Fire fighting teams from five fire stations including Mapusa, Pernem, Porvorim, Pilerne and Panjim headquarters were at the spot since Wednesday morning to late Thursday night and they had tough time to extinguish the fire.
Director of Fire and Emergency Services Nitin Raikar said, “We received call at 11.18 am of Wednesday informing about the fire. Immediately two fire tenders turned out. Upon reaching it was learnt that the fire is major and cannot be controlled by two fire tenders. We called for reinforcement from Pernem, Porvorim and Pilerne fire stations. So far we have used almost 3.50 lakh litre of water, soil and JCB services to put out the blaze. Since the fire was not doused completely, operation will continue till the fire is doused off completely,” he said.
Further, Raikar said 10 private water tankers were also used and as many as 75 fire personnel were involved in the operation to put off the blazes.
Meanwhile, the Colvale police have registered an offence against the scrapyard owner Irfan Khan, for operating the scrapyard illegally. In all, four scrapyards were gutted in fire.
