UCO building fire points to larger question of fire safety in older Bengaluru buildings

Fire Safety

ADGP Fire Services Sunil Agarwal said that since the building was old, it did not have fire safety measures as per the new norms.

Even as people were being evacuated from Farah Towers, the building which houses the UCO Bank building on Bengaluru’s MG Road, officials confirmed that it did not have fire safety norms in place. Wednesday’s fire originated in the electrical room on the ground floor of the building and was rising up to the first floor when passers-by rushed into the building and helped put it out. However, several eyewitnesses told TNM that they had to carry fire extinguishers from neighbouring buildings since the building, Farah Towers, did not have firefighting equipment inside.  ADGP Fire Services Sunil Agarwal inspected the location of the fire and told the media that since the building was old, it did not have arrangements as per the new norms.  “These are old buildings and so they must have obtained a no-objection certificate as per the old norms. We have been issuing notices to the new buildings, we will see what action can be taken about this building,” Sunil Agarwal told the media.  According to the norms, high-rise buildings such as Farah Towers needs to have at least six-metres access – also called a setback – for firefighters to get to the spot of the fire. However, this building did not have it and fire officials in such cases have to douse the fire from the road. Farah Towers on MG Road "We have been issuing notices to all the buildings but none of these buildings on this stretch has the required setback. These are old buildings so nothing can be done and we have to fight the fire from the road. These old buildings must have received an NOC much earlier. We will see what action can be taken. Ideally 30-40 people who work in the building can be given fire safety training," Sunil Agarwal said. TNM spoke to Uday Vijayan, who lost his 10-year-old son in a fire mishap and is the co-founder of Beyond Carlton, a city-based fire safety community. He suggests that older buildings should have fire-fighting equipment within the premises so that the fire can be extinguished internally.  “Fire safety in older buildings is a big challenge. We have been pushing for a retrofit policy in these old buildings. These buildings must be fitted with installations like fire exits, fire extinguishers, water outlets within buildings, etc. You may not be able to add a water tank to an old building but you can definitely have a hydrant that is put outside, said Uday, adding, “How long should we wait for fire services, especially in areas that are congested and have constant traffic jams? There have to be provisions to fight. Traditionally, most of the fires are fought internally, with sprinklers, etc. it is important. But this is being delayed since this costs money.”

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