KARACHI: Dozens of firefighters controlled a garment factory fire in Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) early on Monday. Officials reported no casualties from the blaze.
Chief Fire Officer Muhammad Humayun Khan confirmed that crews had begun cooling the building to prevent remaining hotspots from reigniting.
Flames broke out near Habib Bank Chowrangi at around 11:20 pm PKT on Sunday. People inside the factory left immediately, Khan said. Nobody remained inside during the firefighting operation.
Fire spread to the second floor, which contained large quantities of plastic granules, plastic rolls, rubber and fibre. Khan attributed its intensity to those combustible materials.
“The fire intensified because of the presence of plastic granules,” he said.
Crews initially struggled to tackle the blaze inside the approximately 2,500-square-yard facility. They used foam alongside water to contain it.
Emergency teams deployed 12 fire tenders, one snorkel, three water bowsers and six water tankers. Pakistan Rangers personnel and police assisted the rescue operation and maintained security around the factory.
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Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC) supplied the fire brigade from five government hydrants, delivered 150,000 gallons, and confirmed that supplies continued without interruption.
Crush Plant One and Two hydrants contributed a combined 100,000 gallons, while Sakhi Hassan provided 30,000 gallons. Safoora and NIPA hydrants also supplied water.
Besides garments, the factory produced mattresses and plastic granules for Chinese-style shopping bags, Khan said.
Investigators had yet to establish what started the fire. Khan expected its cause to become clear after crews completed the cooling process
