Massive blaze engulfs paint factory in Sanand

Ahmedabad: A massive fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon at a private paint manufacturing factory near Moriya Bridge in Sanand, triggering a “brigade call” that mobilised firefighting teams from Ahmedabad, Sanand, and Dholka. The blaze continued to rage till reports last came in.

The fire erupted around 12pm at Esdee Paints, said A K Dongre, the chief fire officer of Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services. . Driven by highly flammable chemicals, solvents, thinners, and finished paints, it spread rapidly through the facility, generating thick plumes of black smoke visible from Bavla, nearly 10km away. The intense heat also triggered a series of loud explosions, causing widespread panic in the industrial cluster.

“About 14 firefighters from Ahmedabad are on the spot, and the operation is expected to continue till late in the night or early Wednesday morning,” added Dongre. In total, more than 18 fire tenders were deployed, utilising both water and foam to battle the flames.

Because of the sheer intensity of the heat, firefighters had to position their equipment and launch containment operations from the rear side of an adjoining company. Simultaneously, emergency teams worked to shift hazardous materials from the premises to safer locations to stop the fire from leaping to neighbouring paint and chemical factories.

While no casualties have been reported so far, the fire is believed to have destroyed property and inventory worth lakhs of rupees. The exact cause of the blaze will be determined following a detailed investigation once the site is cooled.