At least 10 homes were destroyed in a fire that broke out in Gajaria village of Machihata Union in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila on Thursday (24 September). The blaze started at around 11am and spread rapidly to neighbouring houses before two teams from the Fire Service and Civil Defence brought it under control after nearly an hour of efforts.
Mohammad Faruk Ahmed, deputy assistant director of the Brahmanbaria Fire Service and Civil Defence Station, confirmed the incident.
According to local residents, the fire originated from an electrical short circuit at the meter of a house belonging to a local resident, Alfaz Mia. The flames were initially noticed in part of the house but quickly spread to nearby dwellings. As the houses were situated close to one another, the fire intensified and moved from one structure to another within a short period.
Residents initially tried to contain the blaze themselves after noticing the fire. However, as the flames grew stronger, their efforts proved insufficient. They then contacted the Fire Service for assistance.
Two Fire Service teams were dispatched to the scene after receiving the alert. Firefighters began tackling the blaze and worked for about an hour before successfully bringing it under control. Their intervention prevented the fire from spreading further to other parts of the village.
By the time the firefighters arrived, however, several houses had already been engulfed by the flames. At least 10 homes were subsequently reported to have been destroyed. The full extent of damage, including the loss of household belongings and other property, has yet to be established.
Faruk Ahmed said firefighters had worked for nearly an hour to bring the situation under control. He added that the initial information suggested an electrical short circuit was responsible for the fire. Authorities are still assessing the extent of the damage caused by the incident.
News of the fire also drew the attention of local authorities. Sirajul Islam Siraj, administrator of the Brahmanbaria District Council, visited the affected area after learning about the incident. He spoke with the families whose homes had been damaged and expressed sympathy for those affected. He also assured them of financial assistance.
For the affected families, the fire has resulted in the loss of their homes and disrupted their daily lives. While the number of destroyed houses has been established provisionally, a detailed assessment is still under way to determine the overall financial loss.
Officials said further steps would be taken after the damage assessment is completed. The affected families are now waiting for assistance as they face the immediate challenge of arranging shelter and meeting essential needs following the fire.
