A significant fire erupted early Thursday morning at two privately-owned industrial units located in Moraiya village, near Changodar in Ahmedabad's rural belt. The blaze, which required an intense six-hour firefighting operation to control, caused substantial material damage, though fortunately no human casualties were reported.
Rapid Spread and Massive Response
The incident began in the early hours, with the first distress call reaching fire control authorities around 6 am. The fire originated in two adjoining units operating from tin sheds. These units were engaged in paper-related and allied industrial activities, storing large quantities of highly combustible raw materials. This factor caused the flames to spread with alarming speed, generating thick plumes of smoke visible from several kilometers away and causing alarm among local residents.
Given the scale of the inferno, a major multi-agency response was launched. Fire tenders from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation were joined by teams from the Sanand and Bavla municipalities. In total, more than five fire engines were deployed at the site to combat the raging flames.
The Six-Hour Battle to Control the Blaze
Firefighters engaged in a relentless battle for nearly six hours to bring the situation under control. Their primary strategy involved using continuous water jets to douse the fire and, crucially, to prevent it from spreading to other nearby industrial units. Officials confirmed that all workers present at the site at the time of the fire outbreak were safely evacuated, which prevented any injuries or loss of life.
However, the fire led to extensive destruction within the two units. Raw materials, finished goods, and machinery were severely damaged in the incident. While a final assessment is pending, preliminary estimates indicate that the financial losses are substantial, likely running into several lakhs of rupees.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigation
Even after the main fire was doused, firefighters continued cooling operations at the site to eliminate any chance of sudden flare-ups from hidden embers. Officials stated that a detailed inspection of the charred premises will be conducted once the area is declared completely safe.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage. Fire department officials have confirmed that an investigation is currently underway. The probe will focus on determining whether the blaze was triggered by an electrical short circuit or the mishandling of flammable materials within the industrial sheds.
