Fire Breaks Out at Fort Kochi's Historic Koder House, Blaze Brought Under Control

A major fire broke out at the historic Koder House in Fort Kochi on Tuesday evening, prompting a multi-agency operation to douse the flames at the landmark building.

Fire and Rescue Services personnel from stations in and around Fort Kochi were joined by Navy and rescue teams in bringing the blaze under control. The Southern Naval Command said defence fire tenders from INS Dronacharya, INS Venduruthy and INS Garuda assisted in the firefighting effort.

The fire is believed to have started around 6:50 pm at the three-storeyed building on Tower Road, with officials suspecting a short circuit as the cause. Visuals from the spot showed the structure engulfed in orange and deep yellow flames as firefighters worked to put out the fire.

The extent of damage to the building is not yet known. Kochi Mayor KJ Sohan said the loss cannot be measured in monetary terms given the building's historical significance.

Koder House is a heritage structure built in the Indo-Portuguese style and represents the historical legacy of the Jewish community in Kochi and the Coder family. Originally a Portuguese mansion, it was bought in 1905 by Samuel S Koder, a member of the prominent Cochin Jewish family, who renovated it to give it its distinctive Indo-European architectural character. The building remained with the family until Koder's grandchildren sold it.

The property, which currently operates as a boutique hotel, is among the most iconic landmarks of Fort Kochi. It features wooden floors, carved furniture, glass-paned windows and verandahs, with sea-facing windows whose glass is believed to have been imported from Belgium and floors arranged in a chessboard pattern.