Gorabazar: The first response to the fire that engulfed the century-old market in Dum Dum Cantonment came from an asbestos-roof fire station within minutes of the flames being spotted. There was little that a lone fire engine could do to quell a blaze that was already full-blown.

Once the tank became empty, it was a long wait for reinforcements to arrive from other fire stations, the nearest one at least 8 km away.

"We stood watching the flames spreading from one shop to another. We tried getting water from a nearby pond but that did not work because most of it had been pumped out recently in preparation for a beautification project," said an officer at the Dum Dum fire station.

More fire engines started arriving half an hour after the SOS was sent. They came from the stations in Madhyamgram, Baranagar and Maniktala.

A visit to the nearest fire station, less than 300 metres away, on Monday afternoon revealed the sorry state of a firefighting unit meant to serve more than 2.5 lakh people as the first saviour in the event of an emergency.

The neighbourhood where the market is located and its adjoining areas are among the more congested pockets on the northern fringes of Calcutta. Shops stand cheek by jowl with residential buildings old and new along the entire stretch. "More than 1.3 lakh people reside in this area. If the adjoining municipality area is included, the figure will be more than double," said a fire brigade official.

Dum Dum fire station relocated to Gorabazar in 2013 from Motijheel on Dum Dum Road. "We had operated from a rented premises there. We had to relocate after a residential highrise came up," the official said.

Seven firefighters each work in shifts at the fire station. "Given the population density of this area, we need a proper fire station with at least four engines. If we had the required infrastructure, the market fire could have been controlled before it spread," the official said.

Harinder Singh, the chairman of Dum Dum Municipality, said the civic body was looking for a place to set up a fire station with better infrastructure. "It goes without saying that we need a proper fire station. But we don't have land to set up one. The fire services department is also searching for space."