Gul Plaza Fire Update: Cooling Process May Take 3–4 Days, Says Chief Fire Officer

Published On: January 22, 2026

The devastating fire at Gul Plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road is a major incident, and the cooling phase could take three to four days, according to Karachi’s Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan.

Speaking to the media, the Chief Fire Officer said that firefighting and rescue operations are still ongoing. Gul Plaza houses more than 2,000 shops, making the scale of the incident exceptionally large.

Timeline & Emergency Response

Fire was reported at 10:27 PM
14 fire tenders, 3 snorkels, and 2 water bowsers were dispatched from across Karachi
Fire vehicles are mobilized within two minutes of receiving an alert, officials confirmed

Partial Collapse & Casualty

Humayun Khan stated that firefighters had largely brought the blaze under control when a section of the plaza suddenly collapsed. During rescue efforts inside the building, one firefighter was trapped under the debris and later embraced martyrdom while saving others.

“This is a very large incident. Controlling it will take time,” he said.

The plaza covers an area of approximately 1.75 acres, further complicating firefighting and cooling operations.

Fire Classification & Ongoing Monitoring

The blaze was declared a third-degree fire after assessing its intensity
Fire brigade teams monitored the site throughout the night
Most civilians have been evacuated, but firefighters remain deployed

Officials emphasized that the priority is to cool down the last remaining hotspots to prevent re-ignition.

Next Steps

Once the fire is fully extinguished and the cooling process is completed:

A formal fire audit will be conducted
The cause of the fire and structural safety issues will be investigated
A detailed report will be compiled to determine responsibility and preventive measures

Source: City42