Many in Coimbatore would not have forgotten April 25, 2013 when a multi-storeyed commercial complex at Lakshmi Mills junction on Avinashi Road turned inferno after an accidental fire killed four women and injured at least 10 persons. Absence of adequate number of emergency exits, fire extinguishers and narrow staircase had aggravated the tragedy. Most of the old buildings in the city and those situated in congested areas still lack basic fire-fighting facilities.
Though the recent fire at Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple sparked questions on fire safety measures at places of worship (Assembly Buildings Category), very few of them have obtained licence from the Fire and Rescue Services Department. “In Coimbatore, none of the places of worship except a few churches have obtained licence from us,” said District Fire Officer B. Pradipkumar.
According to Mr. Pradipkumar no direction has been received to check safety levels at places of worships in the wake of the fire at Madurai temple.
Government buildings, schools, factories and industries are among categories of buildings that are inspected by the department periodically.
Other buildings, including hotels, apartments, and places of assembly, are checked for giving clearance from the Department after completion of the construction and once in a year when application is filed for renewal of licences.
Government buildings, factories and industries where large number of people are employed are checked by the Department once in every six months to check the fire safety measures.
After the 2004 fire tragedy at a school in Kumbakonam which claimed the lives of 94 children, station officer of every fire station is mandated to check the fire safety level of schools coming within its limit at periodical intervals. As per part 4 of National Building Code of India, the height of school buildings has also been restricted to 30 metres.
“Basis security measures like fire exits and two staircases for emergency evacuation (from any floor to the ground floor) can avert tragedies. Fire extinguishers, even if they are not used, must be refilled once every year,” added Mr. Pradipkumar.
