Fire is one of man’s most important discoveries, yet, it is also one of the most dangerous. Sayings such as, “you are playing with fire” illustrate the dangers associated with fire.
Three recent incidents concerning fires in various parts of the world have again turned the spotlight on the subject of fire safety. The most horrendous incident was reported from London, where the 27-storey Grenfell residential tower was destroyed in a massive blaze, killing 80 people, not counting those who are still presumed to be missing.
The other fire was reported from Portugal, where a wildfire claimed more than 60 lives, mostly, people who were trapped in their vehicles as the flames spread uncontrollably. Another incident was reported from Pakistan, where more than 150 people were almost instantly burned to death when a gasoline bowser (tanker) exploded. They were mostly locals who had gathered around the toppled tanker to collect leaking fuel.
Three different fires, three different countries, one horrible result – deaths of unsuspecting innocents. The leading cause of death in a fire is often not burning per se – it is smoke inhalation, which sometimes immobilizes even physically fit victims who can otherwise find their way out. In many infernos, victims are also trapped inside, by badly designed buildings that provide no easy exits until they are consumed by smoke and fire. The design of some buildings often makes it difficult for fire crews to reach certain areas to rescue victims.
In any “towering inferno” (Catch the movie with this title if you can on DVD or digital download for a good primer on high-rise fires), the primary cause for the generation and spread of fire is bad design headlined by cost cutting. This is exactly what happened at Grenfell, where the owners had literally bypassed certain safety requirements to keep costs down.
The use of potentially flammable cladding in Grenfell has been found to have been a major driver of the fire. The British authorities now say that hundreds more buildings could be having the same problem and hence, the same risk.
Fire safety is a must for any building, big or small. Every building, especially, those coming up anew, must have the latest fire safety technologies and ample access for the exit of tenants and entry of fire crews. Every potential source of fire, from electrical cables to gas lines, must be examined and corrective steps taken. Fire resistant and retardant material must be used wherever and whenever possible in construction. No corners should be cut when it comes to fire prevention and safety. After all, one cannot measure precious lives in terms of money.
The Grenfell tragedy should serve as an example for all other high rises around the world, some of which may not be fully compliant with fire safety regulations. In the light of the construction boom involving high rise condominiums sweeping Sri Lanka, the authorities must examine these structures and impose tougher conditions if they have failed to meet even the minimum fire safety requirements under Sri Lankan law.
If our laws are not adequate at present to deal with these problems, new laws must be brought in. There is already heightened awareness of the importance of maintaining structural integrity following the collapse of a seven-storeyed building in Wellawatte, a few weeks ago, and this overseas incident should prompt us also to focus on fire safety in new and existing buildings. In most countries, it is obligatory for the owner to state how many persons can be accommodated in their building at any given time. This is essential, because any number exceeding the set limit will pose a massive danger to all, in the event of a sudden evacuation. Clear ‘Emergency Exit’ signage is also essential, though only a few buildings have this feature in Colombo. It is also essential for every city to have a 24/7 state-of-the-art firefighting fleet manned by qualified and trained professionals. Fire dousing drones are the latest front in fighting high-rise fires and wildfires.
Fire safety technology that addresses different types of fires (electrical, gas, flammables, deliberate arson etc) is constantly evolving. Fire hydrants, hose reels, sprinklers, thermal and smoke detectors and fire alarms are standard equipment in any modern building, but new fire resistant material, including paint and cladding are starting to enter the mainstream. All these options must be tried, along with a strict no-smoking policy in high rise environments. In a detached home environment, where many of these fire safety measures may not be included, the residents must be extremely careful when dealing with naked flames (during cooking etc).
Wildfires, more technically called, Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) fires, are a different matter altogether. The WUI is an area where human made infrastructure is in or adjacent to areas prone to wildfire. The Portugal wildfire was a typical example. Wildfires can be caused by arsonists, but natural causes may also give rise to them. Constant monitoring is the key to containing wildfires, which sometimes occur in Sri Lanka. There is very little awareness on this subject through the media, which should be rectified.
It is really surprising as to how many people will gather around a toppled bowser to collect free-flowing fuel. We have seen this phenomenon in Sri Lanka on numerous occasions. But, this is very, very dangerous because the fuel can explode with the slightest provocation, which is what happened in Pakistan. There are reports that someone tried to light a cigarette near the bowser, which was a fatal mistake. In fact, one should never light up or even use a cellular telephone near a tanker or at a petrol filling station, which has the same type of environment.
Note that this differs from approaching another type of vehicle that had met with an accident, possibly to rescue the victims trapped inside. This is usually safe, since most modern vehicles have an automatic fuel cut off system that stops sending fuel to the engine once it senses that there has been an accident. Moreover, the fuel tanks have a fire retardant covering that further prevents any possibility of fire.
No matter how many latest technologies are used, there is a chance that fire could win. It is a never ending fight with a major force of nature that has the power to destroy everything in its path. Our best defence against fire is constant vigilance and the use of materials that could prevent a blaze in the first place. It is also worth having knowledge of exactly what you should do if a fire erupts – this is why it is important for residential towers and offices to conduct fire drills regularly. This way, residents and tenants have a greater chance of emerging alive and unscathed when an actual fire strikes.