Six-hour battle to stop blaze

Kochi: Three agencies battled for at least six hours to finally bring the inferno into control - the Fire and Rescue Department, the Indian Navy and the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.

The Fire Force from Thrissur, Kottayam and Alappuzha deployed more than 40 fire engines and the Navy two. According to officials, the foam tender of the BPCL played a major part in dousing the flames. As foam acts as a blanket to the rubber which prevents air from reaching the material, it is highly effective to put out the fire.

Without any alert, the Indian Navy sent four fire tenders to the spot after checking with the district administration.

“Besides, we sent four officers specialised in fire rescue operations to take part in the firefighting efforts coordinated by the district administration,” said a senior Navy officer.

Two fire tenders were sent from Naval Base, Venduruthy, and two others from INS Garuda around 12.30 p.m. Two more were dispatched after one hour.
The BPCL foam tenders reached the spot immediately on an alert from the district administration and sprayed foam from the neighbouring residential building.

There was a fire tender from CIAL also.