SWABI Four tyre shops were burnt in an inferno in old Swabi general bus stand market on Swabi-Mardan Road here on Tuesday. The fire that broke out first at the shop of a leading tyre seller was believed to be caused by setting on fire the pieces of tyres near the shop by one of the employees early in the morning. Despite the extensive efforts of the nearby traders they could not control the fire, engulfing more nearby shops. The traders sought supply of water from the nearby traders and all of them were involved in the extinguishing of fire. When they became disturbed the traders staged a protest demonstration and blocked the Swabi-Mardan road due to not arrival of the fire brigade staff and lack of interest in the extinguishing of fire by the district administration. When the fire was turning uncontrolled, the traders started chanting slogans against the local administration. Later, the fire brigade staff arrived and first they blocked the spreading of fire and then started extinguishing fire but before that four shops were turned into ashes completely. Though the exact losses have not been ascertained, so far, the damages were at least in millions. Meanwhile, Anjuman-i-Dokandaran, District President Muhammad Ali demanded that financial assistances should be provided to the traders by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to the affected traders. He said that with the government assistances it might be difficult for the affected traders to restart their business.