Two shops damaged in fire near Law College Square

Property worth over Rs 5 lakh of two shops was damaged after a major fire broke out at Kaya Skin Clinic at Law College square on the busy Amravati road early Tuesday morning. However, in what could have been a costly oversight, the firemen, who had left the scene after apparently presuming that the fire had been extinguished, had to rush back as the blaze erupted again.

Nobody was injured, said fire officials, adding that preliminary investigation indicates that the fire took place due to short-circuit.

"The fire department received the first call at 7am," said Ashok Phulsunge, fire station officer (Civil Lines). "Four-fire tenders were pressed into service to control the inferno. The team returned at 8.55am," he said. But before the firemen could heave a sigh of relief, the police control room informed the firemen that the fire was not extinguished completely as smoke was emanating from the shop. "So we rushed back at the scene again," said Phulsunge.

But by then, the establishment had suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 4 lakh, while the adjoining Tauby's baked goods outlet had suffered a loss of Rs 1 lakh.

Phulsunge said that the clinic didn't have the mandatory fire department NOC, nor was it equipped with the primary fire aid kit. "There was no ventilation in the shop except the front door. The clinic was completely sealed off and it was very difficult for us to identify the source due to all the smoke. The second time, we had to break the back wall before the fire could spread further. If people don't obey the fire safety regulations, what can the fire department do?" he said.

Residents of Himalaya Accord were not happy with the response of the fire department. "They didn't do a thorough check the first time they came here. They should have identified the source of the fire first and prevented it from spreading," said Makrand Oak, a resident. "If they had taken more time, the fire could have gone out of control."