Five-hour fire battle raged at plastic factory

Firefighters battled a major blaze at a plastic-bag manufacturing factory in the SITE Area for more than five and a half hours before bringing it under control. The fire, which broke out around 11.20pm on Sunday, was doused at 5am with the deployment of 12 Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) fire tenders, a snorkel, two water bowsers and a fire truck from Rescue 1122. Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan said the blaze was declared a third-degree fire because of its intensity, prompting the mobilisation of firefighting vehicles from across the metropolis. "The intensity of the fire continued to increase, which is why it was declared a third-degree blaze," Khan told the media. He added that firefighters had to use foam after water alone failed to contain the flames. The factory, spread over around 2,500 square yards, contained large quantities of plastic granules and plastic rolls used to manufacture Chinese shopping bags. The presence of highly combustible material contributed to the intensity of the blaze. Firefighters also faced difficulties in reaching the factory as the roads leading to the premises were extremely narrow, according to the chief fire officer. Seven fire tenders were initially dispatched to the site, but additional vehicles were called in as the blaze intensified. Rescue 1122 teams also participated in the firefighting operation.