A fire broke out at the municipal garbage dump yard at Theetukal in Ooty on Wednesday morning, and fire and rescue services personnel fought the blaze for ten hours before it was extinguished.
Fire at Ooty Municipal Dump Yard
The Ooty municipality, located in the Nilgiris district, consists of 36 wards and is a popular tourist destination that attracts more than three million visitors annually. With the arrival of the summer season, the town has seen an increase in tourist arrivals. As a result, Ooty generates and collects more than 45 tonnes of waste each day, with around 10 tonnes coming specifically from the market area.
The fire erupted at a plastic recycling centre on the dump yard premises. A security guard at the dump yard alerted municipal officials and the fire and rescue services department. When officials arrived, they discovered the recycling centre engulfed in flames. Two fire tenders were used to battle the blaze, which burned intensely and released thick plumes of black smoke.
Firefighting Efforts
The extreme heat from the fire prevented personnel from entering the recycling centre, necessitating exterior firefighting efforts. Initially, control of the fire proved difficult, prompting the municipality to call in additional water tankers. Water was sprayed from four tankers. Despite their extensive efforts, firefighters continued to combat the fire for ten hours before it was brought under control. The recycling centre sustained damage.
The thick black smoke emanating from the waste yard caused inconvenience to residents. Preliminary investigations by municipal officials indicate that the fire may have been sparked by an electrical short circuit.
