In the second incident of its kind within a month, a warehouse situated on the terrace of a textile showroom in Coimbatore caught fire early on Wednesday morning, October 22, 2025.
The fire was reported at Maha Sree Laxmi Silks on Oppanakara Street, a bustling commercial hub within the city.
Fire and Rescue Services were alerted around 5:30 a.m. Water tenders from Coimbatore North, Coimbatore South, and Kovaipudur stations were dispatched to the scene, along with firefighters. An aerial ladder platform and a water tanker were also deployed to assist with the operation.
District Fire Officer P. Pulukandi and Additional District Fire Officer G. Ramachandran personally oversaw the extensive firefighting efforts.
Although the main flames were successfully extinguished by 6:30 a.m., firefighters continued to spray water on the damaged cloth materials in the warehouse from the aerial ladder platform to cool down any remaining embers. Fortunately, mild showers that graced the city earlier that morning also helped to lessen the fire’s intensity. Authorities confirmed that no individuals were inside the building when the fire erupted, and the cause of the blaze is currently under investigation.
Traffic along Oppanakara Street faced disruptions for approximately two hours due to the emergency response.
Mr. Ramachandran noted that the warehouse was constructed with tin sheets on the terrace of a two-storey building. He highlighted a similar incident from September 28, where a textile showroom’s terrace warehouse on the nearby Big Bazaar Street was also damaged by fire.
A Fire and Rescue Services official expressed concerns about such structures: “These tin-sheet warehouses are common on the rooftops of many buildings in the city. Beyond storing materials, they are sometimes used as dining spaces for employees and may contain LPG stoves and other cooking equipment, which can pose significant fire hazards.”
District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar visited the site and engaged in discussions with Mr. Pulukandi. The Collector issued directives to accelerate the fire safety audit of buildings located in Coimbatore’s old market areas, including Oppanakara Street and Big Bazaar Street, an audit that had been initiated following the September 28 fire.