Daijiworld Media Network - Ludhiana

Ludhiana, Oct 22: The Fire Brigade Department in Ludhiana remained on high alert this Diwali, responding to nearly 25 fire calls that kept firemen on their toes throughout the night. Thankfully, no casualties or injuries were reported in any of the incidents.

According to Assistant Divisional Fire Safety Officer (ADFO) Jaswinder Singh Bhangu, around 20 calls were received on Diwali night and five more during the early hours that followed. “Our teams responded swiftly and reached the spots within the minimum possible time,” Bhangu said.

Most of the calls were related to minor fire incidents — including garbage dump fires, small blazes in open plots, and transformer fires. However, a few major incidents kept the department engaged for hours.

One of the most serious fires broke out in a hosiery waste warehouse at Star City Colony, allegedly after a firecracker spark ignited the stored material. The blaze quickly spread, sending panic through the neighbourhood and forcing residents to evacuate their homes. The fire brigade reached the scene after an hour and battled the flames late into the night. The fire was so intense that cracks appeared in nearby houses and electrical wires were burnt, plunging the area into darkness.

“Four fire tenders were pressed into service, and our team worked tirelessly to bring the situation under control,” the ADFO said.

Local residents alleged that the warehouse owner had been illegally storing hosiery waste in the open despite an administrative ban. They have urged authorities to take strict action and shut down such hazardous warehouses operating within residential areas.

Another fire incident was reported from Moti Nagar, where a garment factory caught fire after waste material ignited. Factory employees used extinguishers to control the flames before the fire brigade arrived to completely douse the blaze.

A third major call came from Manna Singh Nagar, where textile waste stored on a factory rooftop caught fire. “The fire brigade reached within five minutes and prevented the flames from spreading to the main building,” said Gurinder Singh, a local resident who alerted authorities.

A similar incident occurred at a diaper godown in Ajit Nagar, near Lal Kothi, where timely intervention helped avert a major tragedy.

Meanwhile, with multiple fire incidents being reported across the city, the fire department cancelled the leave of all firefighters till October 23. Over 120 firefighters have been deployed at various fire stations, equipped with 30 fire tenders, including a 56-metre turntable ladder, rescue vehicles, and mini-tenders.

Generator sets have also been stationed at tube wells across the city to ensure uninterrupted water supply during emergencies. “All necessary precautions are in place to deal with any untoward situation during the festive period,” said ADFO Bhangu.

Residents have been urged to celebrate safely and follow fire safety guidelines to prevent mishaps during the festive season.