Fire at paint factory on Multan Road brought under control

LAHORE: A fire broke out at a private paint manufacturing factory in the Hanjrawal area on Multan Road on Monday morning, prompting a major response from Rescue 1122.

According to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmed, the emergency call was received at the Emergency Command and Control Centre at around 9:25am. Rescue teams reached the site quickly and found that a large section of the factory had already been engulfed in flames.

Officials said the factory contained paint and chemical materials, and the presence of highly flammable substances made the firefighting operation more difficult. In response, firefighters carried out a coordinated operation from several sides to contain the blaze.

Rescue teams used specialised equipment during the operation, including chemical foam, thermal imaging cameras, hazmat units and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). At the peak of the response, more than 25 emergency vehicles and about 85 firefighters were deployed at the site. Additional support teams were also called in from Rescue headquarters.

After nearly five hours of continuous firefighting efforts, the blaze was brought under control. Rescue officials said the operation prevented the fire from spreading to nearby factories and residential areas.

Cooling work continued into the afternoon to put out any remaining hotspots and ensure the area was safe.

Authorities confirmed that no deaths or injuries were reported in the incident.

Initial findings, officials said, suggested that insufficient fire safety arrangements at the factory may have played a role in the rapid spread of the fire. An investigation is under way to determine the exact cause of the incident.

Emergency response mounted at factory site

The incident triggered a large-scale emergency deployment because of the nature of the materials stored inside the facility. Rescue officials said the combination of paint and chemicals increased the intensity of the fire and required the use of specialised firefighting tools and protective gear.

The operation continued for several hours before the flames were contained. Officials said the timely response helped stop the blaze from reaching surrounding industrial units and nearby homes.

Authorities are now investigating what caused the fire, while initial assessments have pointed to possible shortcomings in fire safety measures at the factory.