Scrap godowns in the city, which store large quantities of unsegregated scrap material, are under the scanner after a fire broke out at such a facility on the Attakulangara bypass near the Chala market on Tuesday night. Fire and Rescue Services officials said that the dealers running these godowns will be asked to transport the scrap material to the intended locations as soon as it is collected.
“Such scrap godowns stock all kinds of materials, from electronic waste to plastic to waste paper. It is hard for us to put out fire, as we are not sure which all materials are causing it. We will issue strict instructions to all such shops,” said Station Officer G. Suresh Kumar.
On Tuesday night, the fire at the scrap godown near Attakulangara bypass was noticed around 11.30 p.m. Eight fire tenders reached the spot within 15 minutes. The Fire and Rescue Services personnel had to bring in earth movers to shift the scrap material to an adjacent plot, to reach the source of fire.
The intensity of the flames damaged the PVC pipelines in nearby houses. The fire was douse in more than three hours.
“The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Short circuit has been ruled out. It could have been caused due to chemical reactions, as old refrigerators and other materials were also dumped there,” said Mr. Suresh Kumar.
