Karachi's Timber Market fire extinguished after 11 hours

The fire broke out at a wood godown at Timber Market around 11pm. The fire gripped intensity and spread to residential buildings causing the residents to shift to safe places.

Wood and other goods worth billions of rupees were destroyed by the blaze.

The persons affected by the fire stated that the situation would have been different if the fire brigades had arrived on time whereas Chief Fire Officer Ehteshamuddin said that the statements regaring the late arrival of fire tenders were wrong.

“The fire brigades were present at the scene and busy in battling the flames. The blaze was so intense that the presence of fire tenders at the spot was felt next to none”, Ehteshamuddin said.

The chief fire officer added that the fire was finally extinguished after 11 hours however the cooling process took two to three hours.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Syed Imtiaz Afzal said that the fire was intensified due to the woods in the godown whereas problems aggravated owing to water shortage and narrow lanes.

He added that the people from nearby buildings were evacauated.

On the other hand, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain expressed his grief over the Timber Market fire.

Altaf Hussain, criticizing the performance of Sindh Government, said that the provincial government should be rewarded with “ineligibility award”.

“The rulers are sleeping”, he said.

He has appealed the concerned authorities to save the lives and properties of the people.