A major fire broke out late Wednesday night at the LMJ Car Service Centre in Kamla Nehru Nagar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, damaging more than 10 vehicles and spreading to a nearby tyre warehouse and two residential houses. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after an extensive operation involving around 16 fire engines.
According to preliminary information, more than 10 vehicles were completely destroyed in the fire. Thick smoke and flames were reportedly visible from several kilometres away. Authorities have not yet officially confirmed the final number of damaged vehicles, and an assessment of the losses is underway.
After receiving information about the incident, teams from Pratap Nagar Police and the Fire Brigade reached the site. Additional fire engines were deployed from multiple fire stations across the city, including Basni, Shastri Nagar, Chopasni and Nagauri Gate. Firefighters worked for approximately one and a half hours before bringing the fire under control.
Fire officials said an additional fire engine was kept on standby as a precaution in case the blaze reignited.
Officials said parked CNG vehicles at the service centre posed a significant challenge during firefighting operations. Several vehicles exploded after being engulfed in flames, temporarily affecting rescue and firefighting efforts. The explosions were heard across the surrounding area, prompting police to cordon off the locality and advise residents to stay away from the site.
Firefighters faced difficulty accessing the main fire zone because of limited entry into the service centre. To improve access, they demolished the wall of a nearby vacant plot, allowing fire engines and water hoses to reach the affected area directly. Authorities also temporarily disconnected electricity supply in the locality as a precaution to prevent electrocution or additional fire hazards.
Flames reached two houses located behind the service centre. Fire officials said timely efforts by firefighters and local residents prevented a larger incident. The houses sustained limited damage, and no serious injuries have been reported. All occupants were moved to safety in time.
Local residents also assisted in preventing the fire from spreading. Eyewitness Vijay said he noticed the smell of burning during the night and, upon reaching the rooftop, saw flames rising from the service centre. He alerted neighbours and informed the fire brigade. Another resident, Sagar, said the fire was moving rapidly towards his house, prompting him and other local youths to use buckets and water pipes to contain the flames until firefighters arrived.
The official cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Preliminary suspicion suggests the blaze may have started due to a short circuit in a vehicle before spreading across the service centre. Police and the Fire Department have launched an investigation, and experts are examining the site to determine how the fire started and spread.
The incident has renewed attention on fire safety measures in industrial and commercial premises. Car service centres typically contain vehicles, fuel, gas cylinders, lubricants and other combustible materials. Experts said regular safety audits, adequate firefighting equipment, emergency evacuation plans, modern fire detection systems, automatic sprinklers and routine staff safety training can help reduce losses from such incidents.
