Major Fire Erupts in West Delhi Residential Building
A significant fire broke out in a five-storey residential building located in west Delhi's Chander Vihar area on Friday morning, leading to a dramatic rescue operation by the Delhi Fire Service (DFS). The incident resulted in the safe evacuation of five residents, including three women, and two pet dogs, with no injuries reported despite challenging conditions.
Timeline of the Emergency Response
The Delhi Fire Service received an urgent call about the blaze at 11:32 am from B-16, Gali No. 3, near SK Vidyalaya in Chander Vihar. Three water tenders were immediately dispatched to the location under the supervision of Station Officer Manoj Tyagi. Recognizing the severity of the situation, additional assistance was requested at 11:55 am. This prompted the deployment of a senior officer along with more firefighting units, including an additional water tender and a water bowser, to bolster the rescue efforts.
Challenging Rescue Operation in Narrow Lane
The rescue operation proved particularly difficult due to the building's location in a narrow lane, which prevented fire tenders from accessing the site directly. Fire vehicles had to be stationed approximately 150 meters away, requiring firefighters to use long hoses to reach and control the flames. Residents trapped on the upper floors were instructed to move towards balconies where the fire intensity was lower, facilitating their evacuation.
Firefighters conducted coordinated rescue operations from multiple levels of the building:
- Two individuals were evacuated from the third floor
- One person was rescued from the second floor
- Two residents were brought to safety from the fifth floor
In a heartwarming aspect of the operation, the two pet dogs were also safely rescued from the third and fifth floors using the staircase once the flames were brought under control.
Probable Cause and Fire Spread
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have originated from four scooters parked on the ground floor, where a motor pump and electricity meters were also situated near the staircase. The blaze quickly spread upwards through the staircase, fueled by combustible items such as shoe racks, refrigerators, and various household goods stored in common staircase areas and adjacent balconies. Fire officials have confirmed that a detailed probe is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.
Separate Fire Incident on Delhi Flyover
In an unrelated incident on the same day, a truck caught fire on a flyover near the Commonwealth Games Village close to Akshardham. The Delhi Fire Service received a call about this incident at 4:43 pm, after which two fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The fire was successfully doused, and no injuries or casualties were reported in this separate occurrence.
The successful rescue operation in Chander Vihar highlights the preparedness and efficiency of Delhi's fire services in handling complex emergency situations in densely populated urban areas.
