Daman Industrial Fire Horror: Massive Blaze Destroys ACE Packaging, Crores Lost (2026)
A massive and terrifying fire broke out on Monday in the industrial estate area of Ghelwad in the Union Territory of Daman, causing widespread panic and resulting in the complete destruction of two packaging companies. The devastating fire, which initially started at Total Packaging and then spread rapidly to the neighboring ACE Packaging unit, led to crores of rupees worth of property being reduced to ashes. The intensity of the blaze and repeated chemical drum explosions created a frightening situation for workers, nearby residents, and industrial operators in the area.
According to preliminary information, the fire first erupted at Total Packaging due to an electrical short circuit. Although the initial fire was reportedly brought under control, a tragic chain of events followed soon after. A burning spark from the earlier fire flew into the adjacent ACE Packaging company, where highly flammable chemical drums were stored. The moment the spark landed on the chemical drums, powerful explosions began occurring one after another, dramatically intensifying the fire and turning it into a massive inferno within minutes.
Both Total Packaging and ACE Packaging are involved in manufacturing household and food-related products using plastic granules. Due to the presence of large quantities of plastic raw material and chemicals, the fire spread at an alarming speed. Thick black smoke filled the sky, visible from far-off areas, and loud blasts from exploding drums created fear and chaos throughout the industrial estate.
As soon as the fire escalated, company management acted quickly to evacuate workers and staff from the premises to prevent loss of life. Emergency calls were immediately made to the Daman Fire Department. Fire tenders from Daman rushed to the spot, but the sheer scale of the blaze made it clear that local resources alone would not be sufficient.
To control the fire, more than 15 fire-fighting vehicles were called in from multiple agencies and industrial units, including Vapi Municipality, Vapi GIDC, Aarti Industries, Welnon Company, and Meril. Firefighters from all these units worked together under extremely dangerous conditions, battling intense heat, continuous explosions, and strong winds that further fueled the flames.
Firefighters faced enormous challenges due to the highly combustible materials stored inside both factories. The plastic granules, chemicals, and packaging material acted as fuel, making it extremely difficult to bring the fire under control. Strong winds further worsened the situation, spreading flames rapidly from one section to another. Firefighters continued their efforts till late evening, risking their lives to prevent the fire from spreading to more industrial units nearby.
One of the biggest obstacles in the fire-fighting operation was the illegal construction around the factory premises. As per safety norms, industrial units are required to maintain open space around buildings for emergency access. However, in this case, illegal tin sheds had been erected on all sides of the factories, and raw materials were stored in these spaces. This negligence severely restricted the movement of fire tenders and made water spraying extremely difficult, allowing the fire to spread more aggressively.
Daman Fire Department Director A.K. Vala made a shocking disclosure during the incident. He revealed that neither Total Packaging nor ACE Packaging had obtained the mandatory Fire Safety No Objection Certificate (NOC). He further stated that many other factories in Daman are also operating without proper fire safety clearance, posing a serious risk to life and property. According to him, weak enforcement and lack of strict monitoring by authorities have resulted in repeated safety violations, and Monday’s incident is a direct consequence of this negligence.
Adding to public anger was another startling revelation. Highly advanced and expensive fire tenders, including Volvo and Mercedes fire bowzers worth crores of rupees, were not available in Daman at the time of the incident. These vehicles had reportedly been deployed for VIP duty at a beach festival in Diu. Local residents and industrial operators expressed outrage, stating that if these high-capacity fire tenders had been available in Daman, the fire might have been controlled much earlier, significantly reducing the damage.
Throughout Monday night, fire-fighting operations continued to ensure that the blaze was completely extinguished and no fresh flare-ups occurred. Company owners were seen trying to salvage whatever little material remained from the ruins. Initial estimates suggest that the fire caused losses worth several crores of rupees, though an exact assessment will be carried out after a detailed inspection.
Fortunately, despite the magnitude of the fire and repeated explosions, no casualties have been reported so far. This has come as a major relief amid the widespread destruction. However, the incident has raised serious questions about industrial safety standards, fire preparedness, and administrative priorities in Daman.
Dungra Police and the Daman administration have launched a detailed investigation into the incident. Authorities are expected to examine violations related to fire safety norms, illegal construction, storage of hazardous materials, and the absence of mandatory approvals. The massive fire at ACE Packaging has once again highlighted the urgent need for strict enforcement of safety regulations to prevent such disasters in the future.
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