Hyderabad: With a daily average of 30 emergency fire calls from across the state, and around 10 within GHMC limits, and the fear it is spreading, fire safety officials have come up with certain summer precautionary measures and the need to maintain proper fire safety mechanisms and equipment at residences and establishments.
GHMC area comprises Medchal-Malkajgiri, Rangareddy, Hyderabad and Sangareddy. Fire control officials said that on Saturday alone, the control room had received four fire alarm calls from Hyderabad, two each from Secunderabad and Sangareddy and one from Medchal-Malkajgiri.
As the electricity load increases during summer due to usage of coolers and air-conditioners, the chances of overloading and short circuits are high, fire safety officials from the city have cautioned. They said that in an apartment complex, as residential units are built close to each other, the risk associated with fire is high. It is likewise with commercial establishments where foot movement is more.
Regional fire officer V. Papaiah said that the public must check their LPG and electrical appliances by getting them serviced on time. “Public should maintain good housekeeping by regularly checking for faulty wiring. Everyone must have basic awareness on how to react, shed panic and escape when there is a fire mishap and alert them on 101,” said the official.
Explaining about fire prevention and control methods, many experts said that two methods are adopted in the industry-active systems and passive systems. “In active systems, engineered systems are used by various mediums for detecting and extinguishing fires manually or automatically. In passive systems, they are built into the structure of a building to limit the spread of fire. These help in compartmentalisation of a structure through the use of fire-resistance rated walls and floors, and giving people time to escape from the building. These aspects need to be considered when designing apartment buildings,” said Prabhakar Rao, a fire safety expert.
District fire officer Srinivas Reddy said “Once you are out in a safe space, you will have the time to explain the emergency and share the exact location and other information clearly. The official on call might also want you to stay on the call until fire personnel arrive,” he said.
