t was supposed to be a typical Monday morning, but the tranquillity was shattered when a massive fire erupted in the basement generator room of a densely populated skyscraper. Engulfed in flames this time was Kawish Crown Plaza, located on Sharae Faisal.

Flames leaptacross the lower floors, casting an orange glow over the desperate faces of those trapped inside. Panic and chaos gripped the city as the fire ravaged the high-rise, its occupants crying out for help, the sound of shattering glass and the acrid smell of smoke filling the air.

Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khansoon reached the site. He said his focus was on saving lives. At the time the fire broke out, there were 40-45 people inthe building. Many of them were huddled on balconies and near windows. They looked petrified andwere struggling to breathe in the thick smoke.

Humayunrealised that before making any intervention, it was important to comfort the people stuck on the upper floors. This he did to prevent panic-driven actions such as jumping from the upper floors. “Getting stuck in fire is a traumatic experience for most people. They tend to panic and make abrupt moves. I told the residents that help was on the way,” he said.

“I said, everyone, listen. Please stay away from the edges of the building. We’re coming to get you. Stay back from the balconies and do not jump,” said Humayun. “A distressed woman suddenly appeared on one of the balconies. ‘It’s too hot. I can’t stand it. We can’t breathe,’ she yelled. ‘What’s taking so long?’ someone else asked.”

In situations like these, time can become the enemy. With each passing minute, the plumes of smoke were getting thicker. Many occupants were coughing, rubbing their eyes and becoming restless.

Humayun quickly divided his team into three groups and assigned their roles. The first team was to rescue occupants on the ground and first floors, where the fire was most intense. This group was led by Zafar Khan,the station officer atKorangi.Another team, led by Bulund Iqbal, the station officer at Orangi, was entrusted with the task of finding alternative entry points from the back of the building. The third team, led by Humayun himself, had to locate and extinguish the fire at its source on the ground floor.

As firefighters worked their way in, thick black smoke poured from every window. Zafar Khan rushed forward with hoses and ladders, positioning a ladder against the only accessible first-floor window. Despite flames leaping from the ground floor, the team did not hesitate. Lives depended on them.

Zafar’s team relied on their instincts and experience. Their gear, though heavy, felt like a second skin to them. Behind their masks, their eyes assessed the extent of damage. However, their search for an alternative entry point failed. The alleyway was blocked and fire had already spread in that direction.

“Chief, we’re stuck. The fire’s coming in through the walls. We’ve got no way in” Zafar Khan’s voice crackled over the mobile radio.

Humayun’s concern deepened, not just for the tenants but also for his men. The occupants trapped on the upper floors remained unreachable and the firefighters themselves were now at significant risk.

To make matters worse, another challenge arose; they were running out of water. Bulund Iqbal from the fourth floor relayed the alarming news via mobile phone: “Chief, the water in the four fire tenders and bowser is running low. We only have a few minutes left.”

In the absence of hydrants, firefighters had to rely solely on the limited supply from fire tenders. Previously, city fire stations used to have an ensured water supply, but this was no longer the case. Humayun immediately called headquarters, demanding more fire tenders and water bowsers. Fortunately, reinforcements were already on their way.

Modern city layouts and some of the new building designs ignore critical fire safety measures. In the past, every street had several hydrants for firefighters to connect hoses and extinguish fires. Today, the hydrants do not exist. This forces fire tenders to carry water, which depletes rapidly. Additionally, many buildings lack emergency exits and fire safety systems, leaving occupants utterly vulnerable in event of a fire.

After managing to subdue the ground-floor fire, Humayun’s team ascended to the floor above. It was there that they discovered the fire’s source; the generator room. However, accessing the room was another challenge. It was located in a remote corner of the basement, blocked by walls and obstacles in violation of the fire safety code.

“These building violations delay our work and endanger lives,” one firefighter complained, swinging an axe at an obstruction. Without natural ventilation, the generator room was funneling dense smoke upwards, worsening conditions for those trapped inside. Firefighters worked relentlessly, breaking walls, clearing obstacles and ventilating the area. Drenched in sweat, they persisted despite suffocating heat and poor visibility.

Humayun’s phone crackled again;Bulund Iqbal, now on the first floor, reported: “Chief, we’ve evacuated some people, but the structure is unstable. We need to move fast.”

Narrow and obstructed alleyways preventfire tenders and snorkels from reaching buildings efficiently. Long hoses had to be hauled through blocked streets, making firefighting painfully slow and complex. The firefighters on upper floors struggled through worse conditions. Smoke reduced visibility to near zero.Wooden cubicles and glass offices became instant bonfires, obstructing escape routes. “Keep me posted. No unnecessary risks. Rescue first.” Humayun reminded his teams.

“Copy, chief. Visibility is nearly zero, but we’re pushing forward. Bulund Iqbal said,“We’ve found an elderly woman on the third floor—we’re getting her out now.”As the fire spread, panic among trapped people worsened. Many called family members or recited prayers. Others pleaded for help.

Firefighters comforted and reassured survivors, even removing their oxygen masks to help those struggling to breathe. In the absence of fire exits, they had to use ladders. Terrified and untrained, some of the trapped people were hesitant to descend.

The air, thick with smoke, was finally beginning to clear as the last of the survivors made their way to the ground, thanks to the tireless efforts of the firefighters who refused to give up. The worst of the chaos had passed, but the battle against the fire was still far from over. But at least for now, the people were safe.

Many buildings in Karachi lack basic firefighting infrastructure. A recent fire audit on the orders of the Sindh High Court revealed that 145 buildings on Shahrah-i-Quaideen/Tariq Road, 75 on Sharae Faisal and 45 on II Chundrigar Road lack fire department NOCs. 155 buildings lack fire alarms and smoke detectors. 200 buildings have no fire extinguishing systems or fire exits. Shockingly, hospitals and schools were among the buildings without fire emergency plans.

Under the law, civil defenceorganisationsare required to give a mandatory training certificate for every commercial building, certifying that the staff is adequately trained in controlling fire in an emergency. A fire inspection team also visits the premise to check and certify the buildings, inspect the fire extinguishing systems in place and make sure there are clear exit routes. None of this had happened here.

Back on the ground level, the chief fire officer, who was coordinating the effort, heard the sound of more sirens and the rumbling of additional fire tenders. He looked up, scanning the building, knowing every minute counted.

“All right, the extra tenders are here. We’re going to bring water down from every possible angle. We need to protectpeople from this fire. Keep those ladders coming, we’re almost there.”

As the last survivors were pulled to safety, the fire still raged on. Exhausted but determined, Humayun and his team fought on against clogged streets, lack of hydrants, limited water supply and poor communication notwithstanding. They did what they did best; save lives, one step at a time.

This rescue operation was a success. All the people in the building were saved in the end. “But, as you can tell,” saysHumayun, “it wasn’t without its challenges.”

The contributor works for The News International