The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Fire breaks out in a private godown at Mannady

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Fire breaks out in a private godown at Mannady

Staff Reporter

Consignments of pens and water bottles destroyed

FIREFIGHTERS' TRAVAILS: The congested Mannady area where a fire destroyed goods ina private godown on Tuesday morning. Fire Service personnel found it difficult to enter the building to fight the blaze. — Photo: R. Ragu

CHENNAI: A fire broke out in a private godown in which plastic materials were stacked in Mannady on Tuesday. Consignments of pens and water bottles were destroyed. Fire and Rescue Services authorities said the fire in the godown located between Muthu Naicken and Gate Streets was noticed around 1 p.m.

Nine tenders, including a foam tender, two emergency tenders and five Metrowater tankers, were pressed into service to bring the blaze under control in about two and half hours.Later the Fire and Rescue Services authorities took up salvage work. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Cutters, spreaders, cutting and hydraulic tools were some of the materials that were kept in two emergency rescue tenders, the officials said.

V. Madura Pandian, Deputy Director (Northern Region) who supervised the fire fighting operations said the godown was located in a congested area.

The entrance was narrow at both ends of the building. The billowing smoke prevented firemen from entering the building easily. They had to force their way in by cutting open a steel shutter in the rear. Mr. Madura Pandian said the plastic materials were stacked in a cramped space on the rear side. Firemen had to remove the materials one by one to create a path to reach the spot. A blanket of foam was spread to bring the blaze under control.

The Fire and Rescue Services authorities also utilised the services of local residents to bring sand bags to douse the flames, he said

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