Daijiworld Media Network – Kozhikode

Kozhikode, Jul 27: A massive fire broke out at an oil factory in Kerala's Kozhikode district on Sunday evening, triggering a major firefighting operation that continued for more than eight hours. No casualties were reported as the factory was closed for its weekly holiday at the time of the incident.

The fire erupted at Renuka Oil and Flour Mill in West Mahi, Beypore. According to officials, the blaze is believed to have originated in the section where coconut oil is produced.

Authorities said the factory was shut on Sunday, and no workers were present inside when the fire broke out. Only a security guard was on the premises. The guard immediately alerted nearby people, who informed the Fire and Rescue Services and the police.

As the flames spread rapidly through the facility, additional firefighting teams were rushed to the spot to prevent the blaze from engulfing the entire factory.

Given the intensity of the fire, authorities deployed 10 firefighting units, including nine from Kozhikode district and one from neighbouring Malappuram district, to tackle the blaze. Firefighters battled the flames for over eight hours before bringing the situation under control.

Officials said the presence of large quantities of stored coconut oil and oil cake inside the factory intensified the fire and made the operation more challenging. The highly combustible materials enabled the flames to spread quickly, prolonging the firefighting efforts.

The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Authorities have launched a detailed investigation to ascertain how the blaze started and to assess the extent of the damage.

While no injuries were reported, officials fear that property worth several lakhs of rupees may have been destroyed in the incident.

The incident comes months after a fire broke out at a private factory on Ettayapuram Road in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, in March this year. Workers safely evacuated the premises after smoke and flames were noticed, and the Fire and Rescue Services later brought the blaze under control.