KARACHI: A fire that broke out in a crude oil reservoir in the National Refinery installations in Korangi industrial zone was put out after a six-hour battle shortly before midnight yesterday [Oct 6].

A dozen fire engines and over 100 firemen fought the leaping flames with foam; and cooled the pipelines with water to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby tanks. Fortunately, the westerly wind blew flames away from the oil tanks; and the thick wall of foam and water between the fire and the oil dumps acted as a further deterrent.

The fire that began at about 6 p.m. was extinguished after 11 p.m. — 11.30 p.m. according to Fire Brigade — when the crude oil had burnt out. The fire had almost been brought under control at about 9 p.m., but then it was found that valves of the pipe supplying oil to the reservoir had not been switched off. The underground reservoir contained crude oil mixed with water. It was from here that oil was separated from water and stored in bigger tanks at a stone’s throw.

The Fire Brigade of the Karachi Municipal Corporation received the alarm at 7.20 p.m.

Fire engines were immediately rushed to help the lone fire-fighter of the refinery. Later fire engines from the Airport joined the battle.

The fire-fighters found searing tongues of flames leaping sky high while the whole area was covered by a thick, black blanket of smoke.

By 9 o’clock, the fire engines had consumed 2,000 gallons of foam — but there was no worry about the prompt supply of this most effective anti-fire chemical as the refinery had huge stocks of it.

The Police and the refinery’s watch and ward staff cordoned off the installations.

Inquiries into causes of the fire are being made and the loss being assessed.

[Meanwhile, as reported by our correspondent in Washington,] Foreign Minister Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada yesterday [Oct 5] conveyed to President Johnson Pakistan’s great concern about the latest situation in occupied Kashmir, where India had stepped up its repression against the Kashmiri people.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2017