Timber depot goes up in flames

No loss of lives, as residents were evacuated from the adjoining buildings soon after the fire broke out

Fire-fighters dousing flames at the timber depot at Musheerabad on Monday. - Photo: Nagara Gopal

Fire broke out in a timber depot at Musheerabad in the early hours of Monday leading to panic in the residential area. However, there was no loss of lives, as people evacuated residents from the adjoining residential buildings as soon as the fire broke out.

According to eye-witnesses, fire broke out at around 2 a.m. in the timber depot which is spread over 500 square yards in the densely populated Balkampet area. Huge flames erupted as the fire spread rapidly.

Family members of the watchman who lives in the timber depot too had a narrow escape as they managed to move out before fire engulfed the entire timber stock.

Fire Services officials said the first call was received at the fire control room at 4.55 a.m. after which a fire tender was rushed to the spot. Later, seven other fire tenders joined the fire-fighting operations that lasted till 5 p.m.

“Our personnel ensured that the fire did not spread to the adjacent residential buildings. Otherwise, the loss would have been much higher,” said T. Mahinder Reddy, DFO (Central).

An apartment building and a duplex house are situated on either side of the timber depot but the loss was limited to damage to window panes.

Fire Services personnel faced problems in carrying out their job because of the congested area, officials said. The cause of the fire and extent of the loss is being ascertained, they said.