Massive fire in Ghaziabad paint factory; 20 fire tenders battle blaze in Mainapur industrial area

A massive fire broke out at a paint factory in the Mainapur Industrial Area on Meerut Road in Ghaziabad late Thursday night, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky and causing panic among workers and residents in nearby areas.

The blaze quickly spread to an adjacent scrap warehouse, prompting a large-scale firefighting operation.

According to officials from the fire department, the Kotwali Fire Station received information about the fire at around 8.56 pm.

Fire teams were immediately dispatched to the spot, and additional units were called in after the intensity of the blaze became clear. In total, around 20 fire tenders from multiple fire stations were deployed to bring the situation under control.

Chief Fire Officer Rahul Kumar said firefighters first managed to extinguish the flames at the adjacent scrap warehouse, while operations continued for several hours to control the fire inside the paint factory. The presence of highly flammable materials such as paints, thinners, and chemicals made firefighting operations particularly challenging.

Eyewitnesses reported that flames were shooting up to nearly 50 feet into the air, and explosions were heard from inside the factory as chemical drums caught fire.

The intense heat also caused parts of the factory’s tin-shed structure and a wall to collapse, forcing firefighters to maintain distance while spraying water.

To access the core of the fire, authorities deployed heavy machinery, including a JCB, to break portions of the structure and remove debris so that firefighters could directly attack the flames.

Teams from Vaishali, Sahibabad, Modinagar and Loni fire stations, along with additional equipment from nearby districts, were also pressed into service.

After hours of coordinated efforts, firefighters managed to bring the blaze largely under control and prevent it from spreading to at least five to six nearby factories in the industrial cluster. Cooling operations were still underway on Friday morning to eliminate remaining hotspots.

Officials confirmed that no casualties have been reported so far. However, a large quantity of materials stored in the factory is believed to have been destroyed in the fire.

The exact cause of the blaze is yet to be determined. Fire department officials said a detailed investigation will be conducted once the site is completely cooled and secured.