A month after more than 1,000 palm trees were destroyed in a fire at Valantharavai near Oil and Natural Gas Commission’s (ONGC) Gas Collection Station (GCS), a major fire broke out in palm and coconut groves at Athiyuthu on the east coast on Tuesday, destroying more than 800 trees.
The fire broke out in the afternoon, and fire fighters, assisted by police and revenue officials, brought the blaze under control after fighting for more than seven hours. “We have contained the fire and brought the situation under control,” N. Murali, District Fire Officer, who supervised the fire fighting operation, said.
About 50 fire fighters, led by Ilango, Station Fire Officer, RS Mangalam, who is also in-charge of Ramanathapuram, and Samiraj, Station Fire Officer, Erwadi, reached the spot soon after they were informed of the fire and contained the fire by 7 p.m.
As the fire tenders could not be moved inside the palm and coconut groves, the fire fighters walked a long distance and put out the fire, Mr. Ilango said.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but lighted beedi or cigarette butts thrown by some people could have triggered the fire, he said.
Assistant Superintendent of Police S. Sarvesh Raj, who supervised the operation with revenue officials, said the fire spread fast due to the oppressive heat and gusty winds. The fire spread from Athiyuthu to the coastal Iranian Valasai. As smoulders posed a serious threat, the fire fighters used earthmovers to cover them with mud, he said.
Thanks to the swift action by the fire fighters, police and revenue officials, damage to property and loss of human lives were averted. As a precautionary measure, the fire fighters and the police were posted to guard the area throughout the night, he said.
