IN a massive fire outbreak sizable stock of crude naphtha was gutted at Naphthalene Storage of Coke Oven and Coal Chemical Department (CO&CCD) of BSP on Friday morning. After about four hours the well equipped fire fighting squads of BSP could control the fast spreading fire. However, no one was injured in the fire mishap. It would have been devastating causing a huge loss if fire had further spread to Tar Distillation Unit of the department.

 

The trade union denounced the management for not initiating adequate measures for fresh recruitment to meet out manpower crunch as round the clock monitoring of such highly inflammable units in BSP is mandatory. At about 8.30 am on Friday, all of a sudden massive fire broke out at Naphthalene Storage of Tar Distillation Plant of (CO&CCD), BSP and the flame started reaching high with huge emission of smoke. After information the well equipped fire fighting squads of BSP reached the troubled location immediately and pressed several foam tenders into service but it took them over four hours to bring the fire under control.

 

However, over 100 tons of crude naphtha was gutted in the mishap. The BSP fire fighting squads repeatedly performed an exemplary job or else it would have been devastating, informed the officials. The cause behind the fire was stated to be self ignition owing to ongoing hot summer days but it could have been averted with constant supervision and deployment of adequate number of employees in the unit.

 

S P Dey, president, Hindustan Steel Employees Union (CITU) stated that the fire could have been devastating if it was not controlled timely. He appealed the management for ensuring adequate manpower for round the clock supervision of such highly inflammable units.

 

Public Relation Department, BSP officials informed that after information fire tenders were rushed to the site and fire was controlled. The reason for the fire is being probed into. Meanwhile, there has not been any disruption in the Plant’s normal operation. The first fire tender was rushed at around 8.35 am. Senior officers of the Plant including CEO and EDs reached the spot for coordinating efforts to control the fire and damage. Ten fire tenders were pressed into service and around 50 firemen and officers of the Plant’s Fire Services Dept bravely fought the fire, which was controlled by around 11:30 am. One fire tender from NSPCL and two fire tenders each from Durg and Raipur Nagar Nigam also reached the area as standby arrangement.

 

A committee has been constituted by the Plant’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Under the chairmanship of Executive Director (Materials Management), the committee will probe into the cause of fire and also estimate the extent of damage. It needs a mention that fire mishaps are occurring in BSP repeatedly owing to one or the other reason. On Thursday morning also fire occurred in SMS-III, BSP when molten metal in a huge quantity spilled over following the ladle burst. It was alleged by the trade union that the fire occurred owing to inner lining work of ladle of substandard quality.