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38-Hour Blaze at Swabi Tobacco Warehouse; 4 Firefighters Collapse During Rescue
Fire rages for 38 hours at a tobacco warehouse in Swabi’s Azamabad. Rescue 1122 teams still battling blaze; 4 firefighters collapse from exhaustion. Owner suspects arson.
ND
by News Desk
2025-07-25
38-Hour Blaze at Swabi Tobacco Warehouse; 4 Firefighters Collapse During Rescue

A massive fire that broke out early Thursday morning at a tobacco warehouse in the Azamabad area of Razaar tehsil in Swabi has continued to burn for over 38 hours, despite non-stop efforts by Rescue 1122 firefighters.

According to Rescue 1122, the blaze erupted around 4:00 am Thursday and quickly engulfed the three-storey warehouse, which was packed with “white patta” tobacco and stems commonly used in snuff and cigarettes.

Luqman Khan, a Rescue 1122 official, said that the absence of proper ventilation severely hampered firefighting efforts. “There were no ventilators or exhausts in the building. We had to drill holes in the exterior walls to access and fight the fire,” he said.

The operation has taken a physical toll on emergency personnel. “Four firefighters fainted during the operation due to the intense heat and smoke,” Khan confirmed.

The situation became so dire that Swabi’s district administration called for reinforcements. Firefighting teams and equipment were dispatched from Mardan, Nowshera, and Swabi tehsil to support the overwhelmed local crew.

Muhammad Bashir, the devastated owner of the warehouse, said his entire life’s savings and business investment had been reduced to ashes. “All my capital is gone. The building is destroyed. I have to start from zero,” he lamented. Bashir also expressed suspicions of foul play, stating confidently, “This fire was not accidental — someone set it on purpose.”

Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Owais Babar reaffirmed their commitment: “We stand by the affected businessman till the last moment. Our teams will not leave the site until the fire is completely extinguished.”

This tragedy is part of a troubling trend in Pakistan, where fires in commercial buildings are frequent due to inadequate infrastructure, poor fire safety compliance, and aging electrical systems. In recent months, Karachi alone witnessed devastating fires at Millennium Mall and a factory in the Export Processing Zone — incidents that resulted in severe financial damage and injuries to first responders.

As firefighters continue to battle the Swabi warehouse blaze, authorities are expected to launch a formal investigation into the cause of the fire and the possible arson claim.

 
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Rescue1122

SwabiFire

WarehouseFire

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