Page 8 - Fire

Canada firefighters wage battle to save communities after mass evacuations

Firefighters battling wildfires in western Canada received help from reinforcements and milder weather Saturday, after the nation's worst fire season on record destroyed structures, fouled the air with thick smoke and prompted evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents. Flames were being held at bay 15 kilometres from Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, and weary firefighters had a reprieve around Kelowna in British Columbia. But the firefighters were nowhere close to declaring victory, especially with drier and windier weather forecast for the coming days. "We're by no means out of the woods yet, Mike Westwick, wildfire information officer for Yellowknife, told The Associated Press. We still have a serious situation. It's not safe to return. The fires near Kelowna, about 90 miles (150 kilometres) north of the US border, are among more than 380 blazes across the province, with 150 burning out of control, according to the Canadian Press. Another 236 fires

1 dead, 185 structures destroyed in eastern Washington wildfire: Officials

A wind-driven wildfire in eastern Washington state has destroyed at least 185 structures, closed a major highway and left one person dead, officials said Saturday. The blaze started on the west side of Medical Lake, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of Spokane, at about 12:30 p.m. Friday, Washington State Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Isabelle Hoygaard said Saturday. It grew to 14.8 square miles (38 square kilometers) by Saturday morning, with zero containment. The burned structures were a mixture of homes and outbuildings. Level 3 evacuations Go Now were ordered for the town as winds blew the flames south, Hoygaard said. The blaze burned through the south side of the town and then jumped Interstate 90 Friday night, forcing its closure. The major east-west thoroughfare remained closed in both directions Saturday morning. The fire is burning on both sides of the highway, the Washington state Department of Transportation said on its webpage. There was one confirme

Fire breaks out in 2 coaches of Udyan Express in Bengaluru, no casualties

A fire broke out in the two air-conditioned coaches of the stationary Udyan Express at the Bengaluru City Railway Station on Saturday morning. However, there were no casualties as no passengers were inside the bogies. According to Railway officials, the train had arrived from Mumbai at 5.45 am and was stationed at platform three of the Bengaluru City Railway Station. "At 07.10 am smoke in B1 and B2 coaches was noticed. Immediately a message was given to the fire brigade. Fire brigade arrived by 7.35 am and extinguished the fire," the Chief Public Relation Officer of South Western Railway Anish Hegde said in a statement. He said the cause of the fire is under investigation. Other sources said fire-fighters broke the window of the coach to extinguish the fire.

Fire breaks out at garment warehouse in south Delhi, no injuries reported

A fire broke out at a garment warehouse in south Delhi on Saturday morning, officials said. Information regarding the fire in the warehouse, located on the terrace of a building in South Extension Part-1 here, was received at 5.25 am, they added. Eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was doused around 9 am, the officials said, adding that no injuries were reported. The clothes stored in the warehouse got burnt in the blaze, the officials said. The building where the fire broke out comprises a basement, two floors and a terrace, they added.

Fire at plastic factory in Delhi's Bawana, 5 firefighters injured

Five firemen were injured following a blast at a plastic factory in north west Delhi's Bawana, officials said on Thursday. According to fire officials, the incident took place on Wednesday at 10.56 pm, and 30 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The factory is situated at Sector-5 in Bawana Industrial Area. A blast occurred in the factory due to which the wall and gate collapsed, and five firemen sustained injuries, they said. "Dharamveer, Ajeet, Narender, Jaiveer and Vikas sustained injuries in the incident. They were rushed to Maharshi Valmiki Hospital and later discharged," an official said.

Death toll rises to 80 as rescue efforts continue to contain Maui fire

"We have suffered a tragedy here in Hawaii," Governor Josh Green said Friday in video posted on Facebook. "The fires on Maui have been devastating. But we have hope"

Fire breaks out in Delhi's Lady Hardinge Medical College, no one injured

A fire broke out at the Lady Hardinge Medical College in central Delhi on Friday, officials said. No one was injured in the incident, the fire officials said. The fire broke out in the Anatomy Department on the first floor of the Lady Hardinge Medical College. A call regarding the blaze was received around 2:30 pm and seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot, they said. The fire has been doused, they said.

Govt aims to control surface fire at 19 coal mines in Jharia by 2025-end

The government is aiming to control surface fire at 27 locations of 19 coal mines in Jharia, Jharkhand, by 2025-end, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Some coal mines of Jharia in Jharkhand have been burning for many years due to unscientific mining prior to the nationalisation of coal mines, Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. As per the Jharia Master Plan approved in 2009, it was estimated that about 37 MT of good quality prime coking coal has been destroyed due to fire, the minister noted. Coal India subsidiary Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) is periodically conducting surveys through National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) Hyderabad for delineation of surface fire. As per the latest survey report done in the year 2020-21, the surface fire area has been reduced to 1.8 sq km spread over 27 locations, he said. "Out of these 27 locations, fire at 16 locations is being dealt with by operating fire dealing projects through excavation an

Day after fire, emergency, endoscopic services almost restored at AIIMS

Emergency and endoscopic services have been almost restored at AIIMS, hospital authorities said on Tuesday, a day after a fire broke out on the second floor of the old OPD building of the institute here. All patients were safely evacuated and no casualties were reported in the fire, the cause of which is still to be ascertained. Dr Rima Dada, professor in-charge media cell at AIIMS-Delhi, said that the paediatric and adult emergency services in the old OPD block have been restored. Endoscopy facility has been restored in the AB 2 ward on the second floor and at the 8th floor OT complex. Orthopaedic OT has been shifted temporarily to Casualty OT, Dr Dada said. The fire had forced the suspension of endoscopy, emergency and diagnostics services in the old OPD building on Monday. On Monday, a senior doctor had said, "When the fire broke out, two patients were undergoing a procedure in the endoscopy room. These two patients along with around 80 others in the waiting area were ...

AIIMS Delhi: Fire breaks out near emergency ward, all patients evacuated

AIIMS Delhi: The fire started at the endoscopy room, located above the emergency ward, on the second floor of the Old OPD

US: Massive fire burning across California, Nevada causes fire whirls

The fire, dubbed the York Fire, which is California's largest fire of the year, has consumed 80,000 acres of land as of Tuesday morning

Fire breaks out at Indirapuram hospital in Ghaziabad, no loss of life

"At 1:51 am, a fire call was received from Amicare Hospital Nyay, Indrapuram, and immediately, 2 fire tenders were rushed to the spot and a dousing operation was launched," a fire official said

8 people killed in firecracker unit blast in TN, CM announces relief

Eight people, including three women were killed in an explosion at a firecracker unit in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district on Saturday, said police. The sudden explosion that occurred in the firecracker manufacturing godown in Pazhayapettai in the district left many injured. Due to the impact of the explosion, houses and some shops near the unit were damaged, they said. Police, and fire and rescue services personnel have rushed to the spot to rescue the affected.

SpiceJet aircraft's engine catches fire during maintenance at Delhi airport

An engine of a grounded SpiceJet Q400 plane caught fire at the Delhi airport on Tuesday evening, and the aircraft and maintenance personnel are safe, according to officials. A SpiceJet spokesperson said a fire warning was observed in an engine of the Q400 aircraft that was under maintenance, and the fire extinguisher was discharged. The spokesperson also added that as a precaution, the fire brigade was called and that the aircraft and maintenance personnel are safe. An official at the airport said that around 8 pm, the fire was reported in one of the engines of the grounded aircraft, and later the fire was extinguished. "On July 25, SpiceJet Q400 aircraft under maintenance, while carrying out engine ground run at idle power at bay, the AME observed fire warning on #1 engine," the airline spokesperson said in a statement. Q400 is a turbo-prop aircraft. As per the airline's website, it has Q400s that can accommodate 78 passengers and 90 passengers. Earlier in the day, aviation reg

Massive fire at market in Bengal's Howrah, over 50 shops suffer damage

Local shopkeepers alleged that the fire has led to damages to hundreds of shops. One of the officials said that many shops are located at the place

1 dead, 10 injured in blast at eatery on Shimla's Mall Road; shops damaged

One person was killed and 10 others were injured in a blast on Tuesday evening at an eating joint adjacent to the fire brigade office on the Mall Road in the heart of Shimla, officials said. The blast occurred at the Himachali Rasoi restaurant, known for serving Himachali cuisines, located in Middle Bazaar just below the Mall Road and four to six shops have been damaged, they said. The intensity of the blast was such that windowpanes of several shops and houses in the vicinity were broken and the sound was heard miles away. As the spot is just a few metres away from the fire station and the police control room, a fire fight operation was launched swiftly. Locals said they had complained of a gas leak about 20 minutes before the explosion. They suspect it was caused by a cylinder blast. "One person was killed in the blast. Ten others who sustained burn injuries were immediately rushed to Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital (IGMCH) Shimla, two of them are stated to be critical," .

Fire breaks out at plastic factory in Punjab's Ludhiana, no casualty

On receiving information, around six to seven fire tenders rushed to the spot and the situation was brought under control, officials said

Fire at DCM building on central Delhi's Barakhamba Road, says report

A fire broke out in a building in central Delhi's Barakhamba Road, officials said. According to the fire officials, they received information regarding the blaze at 6.20 pm, following which seven to eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The fire is on the ninth floor of DCM building at Barakhamba Road, they added.

Fire at car service centre in Mayapuri damages nearly 20 vehicles: Official

Around 20 vehicles were damaged in a fire at a car service centre in west Delhi's Mayapuri area on Wednesday, officials said here. There were no reports of any injuries, they added. According to the officials, the fire broke out on the first floor of the showroom. Delhi Fire Service Director Atul Garg said a call about the fire was received at 7.25 am and 19 fire tenders were pressed into action. The fire has been doused off and a cooling process initiated, he said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Vichitra Veer said teams of police and the DDMA were also involved in dousing the flames at the Mahindra Service Centre in Mayapuri Phase-I. The fire is under control now, he said. Around 15-20 vehicles got burnt partially or completely, Veer added. The cause of the fire is being ascertained, the officials said.

6 injured in Sahithi Pharma factory fire in Andhra Pradesh: Police

Two of the injured were hospitalized with critical burns after a fire broke out in a solvent reactor at a unit of Sahithi Pharma, District Superintendent of Police Murali Krishna said