Visakhapatnam: Defunct firefighting equipment a danger

Visakhapatnam: Fire safety is not a serious concern for many establishments in Vizag, which is tipped to attain smart city status. The latest fire mishap at Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority complex area near Siripuram in the city has exposed that though few managements of the establishments are obtaining the no objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department to install the firefighting equipment, many do not follow the directions and ignoring the maintaining the fire safety equipment.  

Admitting that the defunct firefighting system triggered a massive fire mishap in the complex on Monday, District Fire Officer B.V.S. Ram Prakash said the staff in the first floor failed to operate the fire-fighting equipment to mitigate the fire at the initial stage. Fortunately, there were no injuries and casualties in the incident as the alert staff escaped from the spot immediately. If the mishap occurred in the third or fourth floor of the nine-stories VUDA complex, the damage would be more, he added.

A senior officer with the fire prevention wing of GVMC said that nearly 60 to 70 per cent of the establishments (hotels, commercial and residential Complexes, hospitals, government offices) in Vizag have washed-out fire extinguishers, dysfunctional fire alarms and the emergency fire exits were blocked at some places. Many also lack proper functioning firefighting equipment. Though we have been appealing the owners of the establishments to keep the firefighting equipment in good condition to tackle the situation, our pleas have fallen on deaf ears, he added.

The frequent problem of short circuit in electric wires has been leading to an increase in the number of fire accidents occurring in the establishments and industries in Vizag region. Most of the fire incidents are triggered either due to improper wiring or substandard quality of electrical fittings. Although management of the all most all the establishments used to purchase quality electoral equipment, yet they don’t maintain them regular basis, leading to deterioration in the quality of wire coverings said sources in the fire department.

We are chalking out plans to hold mock drills at all the major establishments and train the staff on how to prevent major fire mishap with timely action. We will also inspect the current condition of the existing firefighting equipment in the establishments and if we find improper maintenance of the equipment, will serve notices said, Ram Prakash.