Don't let your guard down: Fire dept amid heatwave

Prayagraj: Amid the ongoing heatwave, the district fire department is conducting an awareness campaign for residents of high-rise buildings and apartments. Fire officials are advising families to create a floor plan with escape routes, including stairs, hallways and windows, and ensure everyone knows what to do in case of a fire. They emphasise that poor maintenance of electrical appliances, especially air conditioners, is a major cause of fires in these buildings, particularly during peak summer months when load conditions are high.

Chief fire officer (Prayagraj) RK Pandey told TOI, "Residents must know about preventive and precautionary measures in case of fire and must be prepared for an escape plan... There is a need to practice evacuating the building blindfolded at frequent intervals. In a real fire situation, it is most likely that the amount of smoke generated by a fire would make it difficult to see." He also advised ensuring appropriate fire extinguishers are in place at all strategic locations and are in working condition.

Pandey said, "Building or residential committees must install smoke detectors to detect both smouldering and burning fires. Check smoke detectors once a month and change the batteries at least once a year. Smoke detectors sense abnormal amounts of smoke or invisible combustion gases in the air." The CFO emphasised the importance of regular fire audits to ensure resident safety, evaluating fire safety systems and readiness. These audits assess electrical and fire risks, emergency preparedness, and the functionality of emergency systems. The CFO noted that most urban fires are caused by short circuits and advised residents to unplug unused electrical appliances, keep them away from inflammable objects, and ensure children's safety around electrical devices. Additionally, fire officials regularly inspect fire-fighting equipment in multi-story buildings and advocate for advanced fire-fighting systems.

Fire experts warn that overloaded electrical outlets and overheating appliances can cause short circuits, often leading to fires. They advise checking electrical appliances regularly and setting air conditioners to a reasonable temperature, ideally 24 degrees, as setting it too low (e.g., 17 or 18 degrees) can put pressure on the compressor and increase the risk of fire, especially during peak summer months.