COIMBATORE: The fire that broke out at the Vellalore dumpyard in Coimbatore on Sunday has been brought under complete control following an intensive firefighting operation involving the corporation, Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) and other local bodies on Monday.
The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja, along with senior officials, inspected the dumpyard on Monday and reviewed the situation after the fire was brought under control.
According to the corporation, the fire broke out at around 5 am on Sunday over an area of approximately 3.1 acres behind the compost yard in Ward 99. The affected portion contained garden waste and waterbodies' hyacinth waste.
Soon after receiving information about the incident, the CCMC commissioner and officials reached the spot and coordinated firefighting operations with the fire and rescue services. A complaint regarding the incident was also lodged at the D3 Podanur police station.
To prevent the fire from spreading, excavators were used to segregate and remove waste from the affected area. Firefighters and corporation personnel continuously sprayed water, while soil was dumped at strategic locations to contain the flames.
The firefighting operation involved eight fire and rescue services vehicles, seven corporation water tankers, seven excavators and eight private water tankers. Additional support was also sought from neighbouring local bodies, with three water tankers each provided by Tiruppur Corporation and Pollachi Municipality.
Around 100 corporation workers were deployed for the operation. Officials, engineers, health personnel and field workers continued the work through the night, using high-powered lights and generators to ensure uninterrupted operations. The police department's Varun water-spraying vehicle was also deployed in the firefighting effort.
Authorities divided the affected area into sections, continued water spraying, covered portions with soil and removed combustible waste as precautionary measures. A 20-member medical team from the corporation's health wing also conducted a field assessment in the surrounding areas. Officials said no cases of respiratory problems among residents were detected during the assessment.
On Monday, Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja inspected the site and confirmed that the fire had been fully contained. Corporation and fire and rescue services personnel continued monitoring the area as a precaution against any recurrence.