Massive blaze erupts in scrap godown in Baddi

A scrap godown located on the Chakka road in Baddi was engulfed in a massive fire triggered by an unattended farm residue fire ignited in a nearby field by a local resident this morning.

The presence of inflammable materials like chemical- laced drums, corrugated boxes, plastics, besides copper, aluminum, etc., further intensified the blaze. The wind blowing gently fuelled its spread. Plumes of smoke were seen billowing from the site. Since the godown was being vacated, inflammable scrap was lying strewn outside in a heap, informed onlookers.

Santosh Sharma, Commandant, Home Guards, informed that three fire tenders from Baddi and two from Nalagarh were rushed to the spot to douse the flame. Loss of Rs 20 lakh has been assessed by the fire staff as large chunk of the scrap was burnt. Even though the fire was brought under control after a few hours, three fire tenders were stationed there as a precaution as chemical material continued to simmer.

At least half of the three bigha godown was devastated though the fire crew managed to save the fire spread by creating a partition.

This is the second such incident to have occurred in Baddi this month exposing the lack of precautionary measures taken to store inflammable scrap by the dealers. While causing loss worth lakhs such fire also adds sizably to the environment pollution as large quantities of toxic waste is burnt.