A potentially disastrous fire incident at a private bitumen heating facility in the Sundargarh area of Baratang was averted on Sunday afternoon due to swift and coordinated action by the local fire services, preventing extensive damage to infrastructure and ongoing highway construction works.
According to official sources, the fire broke out at around 3.49 pm at a bitumen heating unit operated by Mohan Mutha Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.. Flames reportedly engulfed a 20-tonne bitumen storage tank, triggering concern as the highly inflammable material posed a serious risk to nearby machinery, workers, and the surrounding worksite connected to the NH-04 highway project.
On receiving the distress alert, personnel from the Fire Station at Baratang rushed to the spot with firefighting appliances. Firefighters immediately initiated containment measures, deploying foam and dry chemical powder to douse the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent tanks, equipment, or temporary structures at the site. The timely intervention helped bring the situation under control within nearly 30 minutes, officials said.
All workers present at the facility were evacuated safely as a precautionary measure, and no injuries or casualties were reported. The quick response also ensured that construction activities linked to the national highway stretch did not suffer major disruption, averting delays to the ongoing infrastructure work in the area.
Reacting to the incident, Zilla Parishad Member R. Alagerswamy lauded the prompt action of the fire personnel, noting that their efficiency played a crucial role in preventing what could have escalated into a large-scale industrial accident. Preliminary assessments indicate that assets worth approximately ₹80 lakh were saved due to the rapid containment of the blaze.
After extinguishing the fire, fire service personnel remained stationed at the site for some time to cool down the affected area and eliminate the possibility of re-ignition. Company officials also expressed appreciation for the professional handling of the emergency, acknowledging that the quick response helped minimise losses and ensured worker safety.
Authorities have indicated that a detailed assessment will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the fire. Meanwhile, safety measures at the site are expected to be reviewed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident once again underscored the critical importance of rapid emergency response mechanisms, especially at industrial facilities handling hazardous and inflammable materials in remote and infrastructure-intensive zones of the islands.
