Fire at Ctg EPZ factory brought under control after 17 hours, 2 probe committees formed
A five-member probe committee has been formed to determine the cause of the fire and submit its report within 15 working days.
A fire at a factory in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) has finally been brought under control, over 17 hours after it began. The walls and floors of the building which belpnged to Adams Caps and Textile Limited has collapsed.
Two investigation committees have been formed in the incident - one by the Fire Service and Civil Defence and one by Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza).
Bepza Executive Director Abdus Sobham said, "The probe committee formed by Bepza will submit a report within the next seven working days."
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Fire Service Director (Operations and Maintenance) Lt Col Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the reporters a five-member probe committee has been formed to determine the cause of the fire and submit its report within 15 working days.
Due to the intense heat – up to 800–1,000°C – floors from the fourth to the seventh collapsed onto each other, he explained.
The blaze, which broke out at around 2:30pm yesterday, was contained at 7:25am today (17 October).
A total of 25 firefighting units from different fire stations, along with members of the air force and navy, worked throughout the night to douse the flames. Two Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) platoons also joined the rescue operation.
Fire Service Director (Operations and Maintenance) Lt Col Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters that the fire occurred at Adam Caps and Textile Ltd.
He said a five-member probe committee has been formed to determine the cause of the fire and submit its report within 15 working days.
"We received the fire report at 2:10pm, and it took until 7:25am to bring it under control – about 17 hours."
The official thanked the EPZ authorities and other forces for working together as one team in the firefighting efforts.
There were no casualties, as everyone was safely evacuated in time, he added.
He added that the building had "mixed occupancy," with the top four floors used as storage areas.
The stored materials, such as doctors' aprons and medical gowns, burned and reacted chemically, making the fire more difficult to control, Tajul said, adding that the building's structure also violated setback requirements, preventing firefighters from taking proper positions.
Due to the intense heat – up to 800–1,000°C – floors from the fourth to the seventh collapsed onto each other, he explained.
"That is why it was a bit difficult for us. We had to maintain a safe distance and ensure our own safety while conducting the operation, which took extra time. Except for this building, there was only minor damage to nearby structures, but we successfully prevented the fire from spreading to any other building."
CEPZ Additional Executive Director Asheq Mohammad Shahadat Hossain told The Business Standard yesterday that the factory employs 1,050 workers.
When the fire broke out, the fire alarm went off, and all workers, officers and employees were able to safely evacuate the premises, he added.
