What are we waiting for? An urgent Call for Fire Safety in Public Places!

How many of you have been a part of a fire drill at your place of work or resident? My educated guess is 90% of us have never experienced a fire drill in our lives! Has the country that worships fire forgotten what horror an unwanted fire it can create?

We keep getting enough unfortunate reminders of this! Public place fire has in recent times has become a widespread phenomena. In a recent incident a fierce fire broke out in Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi, at a coaching center, students tried to rappel down to escape. 61 people were injured in the incident.

This reminds us of the Surat Coaching center fire incident. There students tried to escape and jumped down from the building. In that incident 22 students were reported to have been killed. What an untimely loss not just for their families, but for the nation as a whole! Students, who would have been an asset for our nation,  and would have contributed significantly socially and economically.

We regret the incident for some time and soon we forget, believing that this would never happen to us. We gamble with our lives everyday, whether we are driving in a busy, chaotic traffic or sitting peacefully in our own apartment that doesn’t comply with any fire safety norms. Is safety such a high price to pay compared to the lives of our children and families?

I am Sorry to say but this ignorance comes from a place of lack of discipline that we have as a society. ‘Discipline’ is the key to following any safety norms. Responsibility associated discipline is always more effective than consequence associated discipline. Only then will we take actions for our safety and not wait for the government to make the laws more stricter, and put fines.

Can we introspect what fraction of the amount we spend on ‘safety’ compared to leisure, comfort and entertainment?

Do we reject going to public places such as multiplexes, restaurants, malls etc if they don’t comply with the fire safety norms? Do we even bother to check? Do we raise any objection if they don’t?

We make sure to select the best schools, coaching centers for our children. But does it occur to us to see fire safety there? No!

It is never too late to start! Let's start with one step at a time. Here are 4 simple steps to fight fire!

1. Make sure your home, office and any other community place has at least one Fire Extinguisher (More in case of big spaces).
2. Many of the residential fires occur due to cooking Gas Leaks, ensure you have reliable LPG/PNG gas leak detectors in your kitchens.
3. Know your fire exits
4. Educate yourself, your family and community about dos and don’ts in case of fire.

Here is an appeal to all the leaders, decision makers and the authorities to take fire seriously! One small flame can result in loss of life,  assets and reputation. Investing in fire safety is way more cost effective than rebuilding after the horrific destruction.

Here are 5 simple steps for businesses for responsible fire management:

1. Install Reliable Smoke Detectors: Early detection is vital in saving lives and minimizing property damage. Ensure your premises are equipped with advanced smoke detectors that can promptly identify smoke particles and trigger immediate alarms.
2. Employ Fire Alarm Panels: Fire alarm panels serve as the nerve center of your fire safety system. Make sure your panels are having Indian respective authority’s certification like BIS, ensure  it is up-to-date and fully operational.
3. Regular Maintenance: Regular inspections, testing, and maintenance are essential to keep your fire safety system in optimal condition.
4. Educate and Train Employees: Conduct fire safety drills and provide comprehensive training to your employees.
5. Compliance with Regulations: Stay informed about local fire safety regulations and ensure your premises adhere to the required standards.

Dr Samir Buwa,
CEO, Vighnaharta Technologies