Fire breaks out at store in Sirsa auto market, causes massive damage

A fire broke out at a paint store in Sirsa’s auto market on Wednesday evening and quickly spread to an adjacent shop. The ceiling slab of the store collapsed as flames engulfed the entire two storey building as well as the neighbouring shop.

Upon receiving the news, fire brigade teams arrived at the spot and tried to control the flames. However, the fire was so intense that it spread quickly and became difficult to control. Despite arrival of three fire tenders, firemen were unable to control the blaze. Nearby, shopkeepers also rushed to the spot and tried to help firemen douse the flames.

Shop owners said the store, where fire spread, was used as a paint warehouse. They were unsure about the exact cause of the fire. It was also difficult to assess the extent of the damage caused by fire at the store which seemed massive. The fire was finally brought under control after about two to three hours efforts of firemen.

Some people at the spot said fire tenders did not have enough water as the supply ran out quickly. Witnesses said the first fire tender arrived at the spot after about half an hour. They said its hose burst as soon as it reached the site. Many people criticised fire brigade personnel, while stating that fire tenders failed to operate efficiently and delay in controlling the blaze could have made the situation worse.