PERNEM
The Goa Street Race at Manohar International Airport, Mopa witnessed an unexpected disruption on Sunday after a fire broke out near the racing track, forcing officials to temporarily suspend the high-profile motorsport event.
The blaze erupted around 2 pm in the vicinity of the Formula 4 (F4) Indian Championship street circuit set up at the Mopa airport premises. Thick plumes of smoke billowed across the venue, raising concerns among spectators and participants and bringing the race proceedings to a halt for several hours.
According to fire officials, the incident was caused by a dry grass fire that spread rapidly due to strong winds. Personnel from the Pernem Fire Station, along with teams from the headquarters, rushed to the scene immediately upon receiving the alert. The fire was brought under control swiftly, preventing any major damage to infrastructure or race equipment.
Fire officer Namdev Pawar of the Pernem Fire Station supervised the operation. Firefighters Sunil Desai, Dnyaneshwar Sawant, Fatu Naik and Vitthal Parab, along with personnel from Mapusa and Pilerne fire stations, worked to douse the flames. Authorities confirmed that there was no significant impact on the event and no damage to other materials was reported.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown and is currently under investigation.
The incident follows a dramatic Saturday, where three Formula 4 drivers had a narrow escape after being involved in separate on-track mishaps. The affected race cars were promptly removed by the rescue team using a crane, ensuring the safety of the drivers and allowing the event to proceed.
