Two Dhaka fires doused

Two separate fires that broke out at an Apex footwear outlet in Dhanmondi and an old four-storey building in Mohakhali on Thursday were brought under control within hours, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence.

The first fire broke out at an Apex showroom on Road 27 in Dhanmondi at around 10:05am. Fire Service personnel reached the scene within 10 minutes and began firefighting operations. Four units from Mohammadpur Fire Station initially joined the effort, while two additional units were sent to the scene.

The blaze was brought under control at around noon after nearly two hours of firefighting, Fire Service media officer Talha Bin Zashim said.

The showroom is housed in a six-storey building. Initial reports said the fire broke out inside the building, with reports differing on the exact floor affected. The cause of the fire and the extent of damage were not immediately known. There was also no immediate confirmation of casualties.

About an hour later, another fire broke out on the rooftop of an old four-storey building in Mohakhali, beside the former British American Tobacco premises and behind SKS Shopping Mall.

The fire started at around 11:11am in discarded plastic materials stored on the rooftop, according to the Fire Service. Three units from Tejgaon Fire Station reached the scene at around 11:28am and brought the fire under control at approximately 11:40am. A power substation is located on the third floor of the Mohakhali building, but firefighters said there was no immediate risk of the blaze spreading.