Whether it is a commercial establishment or an apartment complex, Hyderabad has seen a large number of fire accidents in the last few months that have not only claimed lives but also caused significant property damage. With the arrival of the summer season, similar types of fire accidents are expected to increase in the coming months, resulting in more fatalities and property loss.
During the upcoming dry weather conditions, which are expected to last until June, fire experts in Hyderabad have urged people to be cautious and follow basic rules, which can help prevent fires.
To begin, experts warn commercial establishment owners and management in charge of residential welfare associations in Hyderabad to be wary of combustible materials, which helps fire spread rapidly.
Combustible materials such as paper, cloth, wood, paints, LPG cylinders, and plastic are commonly found in buildings and pose a significant risk.
“People carelessly dump unnecessary store paper and wood in their houses or offices although it can be disposed of without much effort. Such materials feed the fire, which in-turn leads to significant losses of lives and property. The foremost thing to do for the occupants of any property is to clean up all unnecessary combustible material and garbage kept within and outside the house,” advises Regional Fire Officer, V Papaiah.
The next simple thing people can do before summer arrives is to inspect electrical switch boards and appliances in buildings. This simple step goes a long way toward preventing fires caused by overheating and short circuits, which are the most common causes of fires. Failure to do so will result in small sparks, which will eventually lead to fire. “Annual checkup by certified electrical engineers preferably before the onset of summer is advisable,” Papaiah points out.
Many multi-story buildings nowadays have a high fire load, which means there is a lot of wood in the form of furniture, furnishings, and other flammable materials.
Fire loads are typically measured as the weight of combustible material per square foot of floor space. Essentially, fire loads determine the potential severity of a fire incident in an apartment.
It is critical to have firefighting equipment on hand in order to maintain balance and reduce the fire load. According to officials, all building floors should have firefighting equipment, and in the lead up to summer, fire extinguishers, heat detectors, fire hydrant pipelines, and other equipment should be thoroughly examined to ensure that they are functional when they are needed the most.
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Carelessly discarded cigarette butts also cause fires, particularly in offices, stores, and open parking lots where garbage is littered.
To prevent it, no one should be allowed to smoke cigarettes in offices or establishments, and a designated smoking area should be provided.
Also, in gated villa communities, farm houses, companies, and large offices, make sure that mounds of garbage are cleared from the premises and surrounding areas, as a carelessly thrown cigarette butt could start a fire and spread to neighbouring premises.
Basic firefighting training should be required for security personnel in establishments because they play an important role in containing fires at the initial stage. Otherwise, the building owners can request that Fire Department personnel visit the buildings and demonstrate and explain the basics of firefighting to them before the fire personnel arrive.
Aside from that, fire officials recommend that staircases be cleared of any furniture, paper, or other obstructions to allow people to exit quickly in the event of a fire.
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