FAISALABAD, May 8: A firefighter was killed while another sustained injuries when the roof of a factory which caught fire, caved in on Tuesday.

Reports said a fire erupted at a stitching unit of the Arzoo textiles on Khurrianwala Road at 6am owing to a short circuit and it spread within minutes to other departments.

The mills administration called fire brigade. Thick flames and black smoke made impossible for rescuers to put out the blaze. The district administration called firefighters from Lahore, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib districts.

Firefighters were trying to control the situation when a portion of the burnt roof of the factory caved in. Firefighter Khushi Mohammad of Jaranwala was killed on the spot while an unidentified factory employee suffered injuries and his leg fractured.

The fire badly damaged the machinery and reduced the fabric and furniture to ashes. It took about three hours to control the blaze.

The loss was reported in million of rupees.

EDO (municipal services) Mian Naseem said firefighters were busy in extinguishing the blaze in Firdos textile mills when they received the call from Arzoo textiles.

He said the district government would provide compensation to heirs of Khushi Mohammad.