Firefighters while dousing the fire in the house at Driver Hill.
VASCO
Two houses were engulfed in a major fire reported at Driver Hill on Monday evening and while one house was completely gutted in the fire, the adjoining house was partially damaged.
While there were no injuries or loss of life reported in the incident, Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar who rushed to the site has assured the affected people of all help.
While the reason for the fire or the losses caused due to the incident is not confirmed, sources said that the fire began from the house of one Achut Naik on Monday evening and his two nieces were in the house during the incident but they managed to rush out with huge smoke and fumes coming from the house.
Speaking to media, Achut Naik said that the reason for the fire could be due to a short circuit.
"There was smoke that began from my brother's room and then the fire began and spread through the house since our roofing was of plywood. I had gone to Verna to pick my wife and I got a call about the incident at around 5.30 pm from my niece that there was smoke all over the house. My nieces rushed out of the house and my entire house is gutted in the fire. I had gold also in the house and I am not sure if anything at all has remained in the house because of this incident," said Naik.
Ward councillor Girish Borkar said that the houses are in close proximity in the ward and the fire has actually affected two houses.
"The fire was very huge and out of control even as locals tried their best to douse the fire using water. We called the fire brigade and they reached here in quick time but the only issue was that they were blocked on the narrow internal roads with vehicles parked on both sides. We had to rush around to tell all the people to remove the vehicles so that the fire brigade can come in. I appeal the people to park their vehicles on the open ground instead of blocking the road because it becomes difficult for emergency vehicles to access this area," said Borkar.
Vasco fire officer Fransisco Mendes said that it was a timely call from the councillor that prevented the fire to spread to other houses in the area.
"We got a call at around 5:30 and the reason for the huge fire was because there was no one in the house to control the fire when it was small and the ceiling was of plywood. Had there been a delay in alerting us, the fire could spread to more houses in the area and there could be more losses," said Mendes.
Family to be shifted to shelter home, will offer compensation: MLAVASCO: Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar who rushed to the site said that the family will be shifted to a shelter home till the house is rebuilt and that the family will also be offered compensation and financial help to get their house rebuilt.
"We will take care of everything that the family needs as of now since their entire house is gutted in the fire. I have also spoken to the WRD Minister to shift them to the shelter home till they can get their house ready again and we will also offer them all financial help through CM Relief funds. Their house needs to be redone and we will see how we can support that cause financially by offering some help from my side and some from other people who wish to offer help." said Salkar.
