Brahmapur: A major fire broke out at a car showroom-cum-servicing centre in Brahmapur city of Odisha’s Ganjam district on Saturday, reducing several vehicles to ashes.
Sources said the fire incident took place at the service centre located near the bus terminal at Haldia Padar on the outskirts of Brahmapur in the morning.
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Officials said there was no report of loss of life or injury to anyone. Further investigation into the incident was underway.
After receiving information, fire services team rushed to the spot to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading further. Around 13 fire tenders were reportedly pressed into service and it took over three hours to control the blaze.
The operation continued for over three hours amid intense flames and heavy smoke. Firefighters had to break open the main gate and locks as the facility’s sensor system had become locked following the outbreak of the fire.
A robotic monitor was also deployed to fight the blaze from a safe distance. Southern Range Chief Fire Officer Bichitra Kumar Panda said such equipment is used when the intensity of a fire is high or when entering the affected area could pose a serious risk to firefighters.
The facility housed servicing centres and warehouses associated with Toyota and Hero motorcycles. The presence of a large quantity of highly combustible materials used in vehicle servicing reportedly intensified the fire.
Preliminary assessment indicated extensive damage to the ground floor of the servicing centre. Several new cars kept at the showroom and vehicles brought in for servicing were reportedly damaged. A large number of motorcycles were still housed in rooms on the upper floor.
The absence of fire safety certificates for the two servicing centres has also raised concern. Panda reportedly questioned how such a large showroom and servicing facility had been operating without obtaining the mandatory fire safety certification.
The exact cause of the fire is yet to be established, though a short circuit is suspected to have triggered the blaze. Fire officials said there were no reports of casualties or injuries.
