CANACONA
In an irony of sorts, the lone Canacona fire tender which was dispatched to attend to a fire call was itself in need of assistance, after the vehicle broke down at a close distance from the fire incident.
The Canacona fire services received a call on Wednesday night stating that a jackfruit tree had caught fire at Vaizawada-Shristhal. The fire brigade left with the fire personnel and when they were within a few metres away, the vehicle broke down on the Vaizawada slope.
Despite all efforts, the fire brigade vehicle could not be started, even as the fire engulfed the tree.
According to sources, firemen made some efforts to douse the fire, before walking back to their barracks at Mastimoll-Canacona late Wednesday night.
Sources further informed that after residents complained on Thursday morning that the jackfruit tree was still on fire, a new fire brigade was requisitioned from Cuncolim and the fire was extinguished.
When asked, officials at the Canacona Fire Station confirmed that the fire tender was still lying at Vaizawada, as no mechanic had turned up on Thursday. They said it would be repaired on Friday.
