Miscellaneous items caught fire at the entrance to an underpass in Praça da Amizade (colloquially known as Sintra Square) in Nam Van yesterday morning, the Fire Services Bureau (CB) said in a statement.
The fire, which occurred at around 11 a.m. yesterday, was quickly extinguished by firefighters. No one was injured in the incident, the statement said.
Before the fire, according to the statement, workers were cutting pieces of metal with an oxy-fuel cutting machine at the underpass entrance. Sparks from the machine caused nearby debris to catch fire, the statement said.
Firefighters believe that the workers’ “improper operation” was the possible cause of the fire, the statement said.
According to the statement, the area affected by the fire covered about 10 metres by 4 metres.
There were four oxyacetylene cylinders at the scene when the workers were cutting pieces of metal, the statement said, adding that the provider of the cylinders sent staff to the area to remove them after the incident.
The section of Avenida Doutor Mário Soares outside the square in the direction of Praça de Ferreira do Amaral was closed to traffic for a short period of time during the fire-fighting operation, the statement said.
According to specialist websites, oxyacetylene cylinders are a combination of acetylene cylinders and oxygen cylinders used together for oxy-fuel welding or cutting of pieces of metals.
Firemen hose down an area to lower the temperature at an underpass entrance in Praça da Amizade in Nam Van where a fire erupted yesterday morning. – Photo courtesy of TDM
