A fire broke out in a commercial godown named Najir Compound in Patha wadi, Sanjay Nagar, Malad, on Saturday afternoon, which the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) declared to be a level 2 incident (moderate to major blaze requiring a significant response). The structure was said to have been a buffalo shed at one time, which was later sized down to make place for a godown which stores raw materials such as wood and ply.
The fire started when an electricity meter box outside the godown short circuited. Wayward sparks from the cables attached to the box are suspected to have spread, landing on the ply and raw materials in the godown.
The fire, as of early evening on Saturday, was still active but was being kept under control by the MFB.
Ram Bhoite, a local resident, told Sunday mid-day, “This is the third time in seven to eight years that the godown has caught fire. The first instance saw a big fire where one man was injured, but the fire after that was small and was easily put out with no injuries to anyone.”
The godown was surrounded by industrial builders and residential buildings on either side. Bhoite said, “The fire from the godown did spread towards one of the industrial buildings next to it but was quickly put out. Luckily there was no spread of fire towards the residential buildings and all the people were safe.”
The godown also stored equipment related to film shootings such as cardboard and paper material which had easily caught the fire. The agencies mobilised for the fire are BMC’s MFB, Police, BMC’s ward staff, 108 Ambulance & Adani Electricity, with additional 15 to 20 Fire Brigade vehicles at the place of incident.
