A fire damaged seven to eight warehouses on the sixth and seventh floors of Manzur Khan Plaza Market in Chawkbazar, Old Dhaka, before firefighters brought the blaze under control at 5:20am today (13 October), nearly 12 hours after it broke out.
The warehouses stored umbrellas, cosmetics, attar, and other goods. The total financial losses have yet to be determined, Fire Service and Civil Defence officials said.
At a briefing at the scene this morning, Kazi Nazmuzjaman, assistant director of the Fire Service and Civil Defence's Dhaka division, said firefighters were still working to extinguish the fire completely, as smoke continued to emerge from stored goods being removed from the building.
Six firefighting units remained at the scene, while around 100 to 150 personnel had taken part in the operation, he said.
According to the Fire Service, it received information about the fire at 5:02pm yesterday (12 October) at the market near Chhoto Katara AC Mosque in Chawkbazar. The first firefighting unit arrived at 5:22pm, and the number of units was gradually increased to 12.
Narrow lanes, smoke and water shortages hamper firefighting
Firefighters faced several challenges during the operation, including narrow access lanes, inadequate ventilation inside the building and limited water supplies.
The narrow lanes made it difficult for firefighting vehicles to reach the scene, while poor ventilation hampered efforts to tackle the blaze inside the building. Water reserves also ran out repeatedly, forcing firefighters to replenish supplies during the operation.
Several warehouse doors were locked, with some secured by three to four locks and collapsible gates. Firefighters had to cut through the locks and shutters to enter the premises and reach the source of the fire.
Four firefighters fell ill from the heat and heavy smoke and were taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for treatment and observation.
Sixth-floor warehouses suffer most damage
Nazmuzjaman said the sixth floor housed 12 to 14 large warehouses, seven to eight of which were affected by the fire. The seventh floor also sustained damage, but losses there were comparatively lower.
Goods in warehouses not directly affected by the flames were also damaged by water used during firefighting.
The building had firefighting equipment, and traders initially tried to extinguish the blaze using it. However, their efforts failed because of the intensity of the fire, the official said.
Firefighters also worked to prevent the blaze from spreading to three or four nearby markets. Although the fire threatened to spread to surrounding buildings on several occasions, timely intervention helped contain it.
Cause of fire yet to be determined
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Nazmuzjaman said the Fire Service would form an investigation committee after the fire was fully extinguished.
The building had electrical connections, and a short circuit could have caused the fire, but this could not be confirmed without an investigation, he said.
Although no visible flames remained inside the building, firefighters continued spraying water on smouldering goods as smoke emerged during the removal of damaged stock. The official warned that the materials could catch fire again if water spraying stopped before the fire was completely extinguished.
He added that there was no information suggesting anyone lived in the building. Market traders and local residents assisted firefighters during the operation.
The full extent of the damage will be assessed after firefighting work is completed. Warehouse owners will also need time to calculate their individual losses.