As we, at Beyond Carlton, have repeatedly quoted the data from NCRB 2011-2014, LPG gas bursts have claimed 19491 lives in 5 years in India. LPG is widely used in Indian kitchens. Most of the residential fire accidents in India are caused by LPG.

4 Potential Hazards From An LPG

1 Fire from leakage

Fire from accidental leakage from the gas tubes or explosion due to accumulated gas from the leakage is one of the leading causes of fire accidents.

What causes leakage of LPG?

• Tubes with holes or worn-out tubes connecting LPG and the stove
• Poor maintenance of stove
• Not switching off the cylinder or stove when not in use.

To prevent fires from LPG leakage, you must use tubes that are recommended by the service provider. Also, you should check for the date of expiry and replace old tubes as and when necessary. Even if you are leaving your house for a short duration, shut off the cylinder to prevent accidental leakage.

Poor maintenance of the stove also causes gas leakage. Keep the stovetop clean of greases and dirt accumulation. Even if you suspect a small leakage, get it checked by the authorized person immediately. Store the phone numbers of the emergency contact numbers issued by your gas agency. This may come handy in case of leakages.

2 Careless usage or poor handling

There is a potential fire hazard if the LPG is not stored in a proper way. Not storing an LPG in an upright position or storing combustible elements close to LPG or storing below the ground level could cause fires. Here are a few points to consider:

• Do not store combustible materials near LPG, eg: wood, cloth, paper, etc.
• Store the LPG in an upright position on the ground level.
• Do not store two gas cylinders in the same place.
• If you suspect gas leakage, contact the emergency numbers provided by your agent. Never check the gas leakage with naked flames

3 Unattended cooking

House fires are often caused by food catching fire. These accidental fires could lead to a big disaster as we use LPG in our kitchens. Do not leave cooking unattended even for a short duration.

4 Suffocation due to inhalation

Though this is not a fire hazard, suffocation due to inhalation of LPG could be fatal. Prolonged inhalation of LPG could damage the lungs and could cause death due to suffocation. If there is a prolonged inhalation of LPG, it is advisable to seek medical help immediately. Not only inhalation, if there is an eye contact with LPG, rinse it thoroughly with water and seek medical assistance. To prevent accidental inhalation of LPG, it is advisable to use electronic gas leak sensors in your kitchen. These devices are available in online shops.

What should you do if there is a gas leak?

If you do not know how to handle a gas leak, then it could be dangerous. The infographics show what you should do in case of a gas leak. Prevent fires by being attentive while cooking.

What are the common causes of cooking fires?

• Unattended cooking
• LPG leakage
• Grease and oil spills
• Stocking combustible materials like kerosene, alcohol, etc near the stove.

Kitchen Fire Safety Tips

1. Keep kids away from gas stoves and microwaves while cooking.
2. While using cooking oil, keep children away and use it in the right sized pans.
3. Clean the hob and chimney regularly.
4. Have a fire extinguisher installed and know how to use it.
5. Tuck in the saree ends and duppatas well while cooking. Don’t keep the waste cloth or tissue rolls near gas stove.
6. Read the safety instructions before using a new microwave oven. Use only microwave containers.
7. Close the cylinder valve when not in use. Unused cylinders should be stored in a well-ventilated area. It should be stored upright. Do not use petrol or any other inflammable liquids near the cylinder.
8. If a pan catches fire due to oil, don’t use water. With water, the fire would spread quickly and can cause severe burns. Instead, close the pan with a lid.

What is PNG?

Do we only use LPG in India? No, in many cities Piped Natural Gas (PNG) is widely used as an alternative to LPG. PNG is methane, as goes with the name, natural gas. Since it cannot be stored, it is supplied directly to the households from the source with the help of tubes.

LPG Vs PNG

Though it is not as risky as LPG. PNG is also a flammable gas and if you are using it, there are certain precautions that you should take.

Precautions while using PNG 

The precautions that need to be observed are almost similar to that of LPG. Here are the points that you should keep in mind while using a piped natural gas.

Ventilation: Before using PNG, make sure the room has enough ventilation. Open the doors and windows, so that in case of any leakage, the gas would disperse quickly.

Leakage: A distinctive odor is added to the gas for easy identification. Also, if there is a hissing sound near a pipeline, it may indicate leaking natural gas.

If there is a leakage, close the valve that supplies gas to your stove and seek the help of your gas supplier. Do not light a match or a lighter or any naked flame. Do not move an electrical appliance or turn off or turn on an electrical appliance.

If you are going away for a long time, close all the valves that supply gas. This prevents accumulation of gas in your house in your absence.

Digging: Unlike LPG, PNG is supplied through underground gas lines that run to your house. So, in case of any digging work is taking place around your house, inform the gas company immediately. If you suspect any potential damage to the gas line, call the gas supplier immediately.

Asphyxiation:  Prolonged exposure to natural gas may lead to carbon mono-oxide poisoning and eventually death by asphyxiation. If there is a yellow, large and unsteady flame in your gas burner or if there is a pungent odor when you are using the gas, then there could be a presence of carbon monoxide. In such cases, contact your supplier immediately. It is also advisable to install carbon monoxide indicators in your kitchen.

Maintenance:

Maintenance plays a key role in preventing accidents due to leakage and exposure to carbon monoxide.

• Get your gas appliances checked regularly by a qualified technician from the gas company.
• If there is any damage or repair to the gas appliances, have this checked only by the qualified technician.
• Do not store or use any flammable products in the same room near the PNG. Such as LPG, paints, spray repellents, varnish, paints, cleaning products, etc. This will prevent any accidental ignition.
• If there is a yellow, large and unsteady flame, call the gas company immediately.
• Never use PNG and LPG in the same place.

PNG gas, like any other inflammable materials, needs us to be cautious and aware. It can be a boon and also a bane if we are not aware and careful. Treat all inflammable materials with utmost caution.

References:

“Fire safety tips for PNG users” – original article published by Beyond Carlton for Citizen Matters.

Have you given a thought to protecting your home from a fire? If not consider this,

Residential fires account for 20% of all the fire accidents in India. More than 1 lac people have died in various fire accidents in the period 2011-2014 in India. (NCRB Data)

In India, fire safety laws and implementation of fire safety always take a back seat. Unlike the western countries, the fire safety laws in India are not getting reformed at the pace of rapid urbanization and economic development.

As sensible citizens, we have to begin with educating our families about fire safety and prevent fire accidents in our homes.

These basic firefighting elements can make your home fire safe

1. Smoke alarms

Smoke alarms are commonly available in online stores. A smoke alarm alerts you when there is a smoke (which is caused by a fire). The smoke from fires always rises to the ceiling first. These smoke alarms are placed on the ceilings to alert you immediately in case there is a fire. A smoke alarm is a in-expensive equipment which can protect you and your family. In many countries, smoke alarms are mandatory. But, in India, we do not find smoke alarms anywhere except malls, theatres, high-rise buildings and commercial establishments. Get one for your home.Do not forget to replace the batteries of smoke alarms at least once in six months.

2. Fire extinguishers

A fire extinguisher would be the last thing that we would buy for our home. We buy so many things to make our homes beautiful. But, a fire extinguisher is one valuable equipment which helps to save lives. Buying a fire extinguisher alone does not protect you from a fire. You should know how to use it and refill it before the due date.

3. Fire escape plan & audit

Having a fire exit plan and educating the family members of fire safety is another important thing that could save you during emergencies. Many times, lack of awareness about fire safety is a major cause for fire accidents. By educating your family members, you can reduce panic and clarity in thinking during emergencies. A fire exit plan should include two ways out of every room and a safe meeting point. Practice a fire drill at least once every year. Teach your children and senior members about fire safety dos and don’ts.

4. Using electrical equipment mindfully

Electrical fires are also another major cause of residential fires. Hence it is important for you to check the electrical wiring of your home. Check the electrical equipment for frayed or damaged wires and replace it immediately. Discard old and worn out electrical appliances. Install a circuit breaker to prevent electrical short-circuits.

5. Fire brigade’s number

Remember to call 101 in case of a fire.Know the contact numbers of your local fire brigade. In a fire, the first few minutes are very crucial. Wasting time would make the fire grow bigger and uncontrollable.

These things could save a small home from a fire disaster. But, if you live in a high-rise building or a multi-storeyed apartment, firefighting becomes much complex. In these cases, you must be aware of many other protocols in which you could prevent or protect yourself from the fire.

Resources:

Home Fire Safety Checklist Pdf

General fire safety tips

Fire safety in high-rise buildings

Have you ever given a thought to fire safety? Many of us do not know that fires & smoke can be extremely dangerous and a fire accident can happen anywhere, anytime and, to anyone.

So, it is essential for you to know about fires to protect yourself from an accident or prevent it in the first place.

Quick fire data in India

According to FICCI’s Pinkerton India Risk Survey 2017, fire is the 5th major risk for India. In India, every year thousands die in fire accidents.

Every day we lose 48 lives in fire accidents and about 1.13 lacs have died between 2011-2015 in various fire accidents in India.

Residential fires amount to 20% of all the fire accidents

Industrial fires are commonly caused by electrical short-circuits and violations of fire safety laws.

10 Important facts about fires and smoke:

1. Fires can go out of control in minutes – A small cooking fire or an electrical short-circuit can become an uncontrollable one if it comes in contact with combustible materials. So, with heat, fuel, and oxygen, a fire will double in size every minute.
2. Fire produces heat and poisonous gases. These gases replace oxygen and could cause suffocation.
3. Before you see the fire in your building, the rooms could get engulfed in smoke. Smoke spreads faster than fire. The smoke is toxic and hot.
4. In fire accidents, many get killed due to smoke inhalation before the fire could even reach them.
5. As the smoke is thick and dark. It can be pitch dark and makes it difficult for you to see anything. It blocks the light and due to this you may get disoriented.
6. As the heat rises in a fire, the smoke also rises. The smoke gets collected near the ceiling.
7. The heat from the fire is as deadly as the fire. It can get as hot as 315-degree C at eye level. It is hot enough to scorch your lungs and can melt the clothes you are wearing into your skin.
8. In India, cooking fires are the most common causes of residential fire followed by electrical short-circuit.
9. Most of the cooking fires are caused by unattended cooking and LPG gas bursts.
10. House fires are also caused by children playing with matchsticks and careless smoking.

Effects of Asphyxiation:

What is asphyxiation?

As you may know, asphyxiation is a state/process of being deprived of oxygen. (source: Wikipedia)

During fire accidents, a room could be filled up with poisonous gases and these gases like replace the oxygen in the room. The common asphyxiant gases are nitrogen, argon, helium, butane, and propane.

Butane and propane are the components of LPG.

Due to this, many of the fire victims succumb to smoke before getting burned.

According to NFPA,

Hence, it is always better to prevent fires. Installing a smoke alarm could save you from asphyxiation.

The infographic helps you to understand the uses of smoke detectors. Though smoke detectors are not popular in India, consider installing it in your home if you care about the safety of your family.

What should you do in case you are stuck in smoke?

1. Cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth
2. Close the door and seal all cracks with wet towels or sheets. This would prevent smoke from coming in
3. Get low, and crawl outside the building with your hands and knees. As the smoke rises, the air at your knee level is cleaner and helps you breathe.

If you are caught in a fire, Get out and stay out of the building.

Resources:

To know what you should do in case of a fire – refer to the fire safety tips

Download the home fire safety checklist

References:

NFPA

NCRB Data 2011-2015

Wikipedia.org

Was it the fact that Kamala and her friends were on the 7th floor in that building which also housed many offices in addition to food and liquor joints? And that the fire had started at one of the floors below with the smoke spreading up through the A/C ducts and lift shafts?

Was it because some palms, at various levels and from different bodies, had been greased by some establishments to get NOCs which enabled them to continue operating from the premises despite non-compliance of certain laws or requirements probably resulting in the fire?
The roads were narrow AND had vehicles parked on both sides – after all, people had to park their vehicles somewhere, right? Even if the boards said ‘No Parking’. It surely was not their fault that the house/office they had built or rented did not come with sufficient attached parking lots. Why had the city corporation not considered this while giving permission for construction of these houses and building anyway? They were to be blamed.

It was not their fault that the fire brigade did not reach on time.

In a city having over 1 crore inhabitants, it was the state government’s fault that there were not even 20 – 30 fire stations across the city. The government just did not care. As also the water supply department people who did not supply sufficient water to the firefighting hoses in the building. Or to the building, period. It did not matter that the water lines were tapped into many times or broken due to constant digging by various departments and agencies.

The city corporation could not keep an eye on all the roads and all the digging that went on all the time, could they? Roads had to be dug up for Metro construction and other works. Potholes were bound to occur when there were frequent rains and at least 70 lakh vehicles or more on the road every day.

Traffic jams were but a part of city life, were they not? The fire brigade still had to find a way to reach the burning building on time.

Oh, wait. Kamala‘s family has had a history of deaths by fire. A cousin in the DAV school fire, an aunt at the Srirangam wedding fire, an uncle at a cinema hall… Yes. Her fate was to blame. Someone had definitely cursed her family.

And no, don’t ask about the others who died with Kamala. Fate is the killer for one has to die one day, right? Either through old age or some other means? Maybe fire…

Yes. It was a fire that killed Kamala. And no one else, no other body is responsible for her death.

———————————————————-

 Author: Deepa Vaishnavi – a citizen journalist who believes prevention is better than cure. Deepa volunteers with Beyond Carlton in her spare time.

According to NCRB 2015, fire accidents kill 48 Indians every day. Fire accidents have killed over 1 lakh Indians in 5 years (2011-2015) In our country, as we at Beyond Carlton keep saying, fire safety takes a backseat and we can spot a fire safety violation very easily. Because of this nonchalance, we have had some of the most tragic fire incidents; we talk about it for a while and forget after a few months.

Here are some of the worst fire accidents of 2017. Do we still remember them?

1. Kamala Mills – Mumbai

This is one of the recent fire tragedies that shook India. Kamala mills fire accident it one of the worst tragedies of 2017. The accident occurred on 28th December, in two rooftop pubs in Mumbai. The accident claimed 14 lives. The cause of the fire is claimed to be from a hookah. Apart from this, there were series of fire safety violations in these pubs. The pubs did not have emergency exits nor did it have fire safety equipment in working condition.

2. Plastic Factory – Ludhiana

The fire accident at a plastic factory in Ludhiana took place on 20th November. 13 people, including 3 firemen were killed and dozens were critically injured. The 5-storey building allegedly had approval only for 2 storeys and also had been stocking up hazardous chemicals. Due to these violations, the fire accident led to building collapse. Moreover, there were no fire safety system or fire safety equipment in the building.

The rescue operation became very challenging for the disaster responders and there were many trapped inside the debris for a long time. Many houses near the factory also got damaged because of this incident.

3. Snack Shop in Saki Naka – Mumbai

12 labourers were killed in this ghastly fire accident in Khairani Road Saki Naka on December 18. The fire was due to an electrical short circuit followed by an explosion of gas cylinders. At the time of this disaster, 21 persons were sleeping inside the shop on a loft which was 60X30 feet. The workers were trapped inside this cramped place. The shop had only one exit and that was blocked due to the fire. The fire was doused by drilling a hole from the neighbouring shop. The owner of the shop did not have the license to operate.

4. Rohini hospital – Telangana

This accident occurred on mid-October at the time where 199 patients were admitted in Rohini super specialty hospital Hanamkonda, Telangana. The accident claimed 2 lives and several others severely injured. The cause of the fire was allegedly due to a cylinder leakage in the operation theatre. The hospital did not have fire systems in working condition.

5. Scrap market – Kota

This gruesome accident occurred on July 19 in a scrap market in Kota, Rajasthan. The fire was due to an electrical short circuit and subsequent explosion of five cylinders stored nearby. This accident killed two and 15 people were severely injured. It is also alleged that almost all the shops stored diesel in canisters due to which the fire became uncontrollable.

6. Cracker Shop – Rourkela

A major fire broke out in a cracker shop in Rourkela, Odisha on October 18. The fire killed one and injured three persons. The fire started due to an electrical short-circuit and the shop had stocked a large quantity of firecrackers.

7. Illegal cracker unit – Jharkhand

A fire at an illegal cracker unit in Kumardubi village, Jamshedpur killed 6 people and 4 injured. The cracker unit was a house where a lot of crackers was stored and manufactured. The house was located in a busy market area.

8. Explosion – Juhu Mumbai

The disaster took place on September 7th in an under the construction apartment in Juhu Mumbai. The fire was caused by a gas cylinder explosion in which 6 people were killed and 11 were injured. The victims were staying in a makeshift portion of the stilt are of the building.

These accidents were the worst in terms of casualties. But there was a number of fire accidents which involved huge property losses or had put many lives at huge risk. Here are to mention a few:

1. MY Hospital, Indore – November 2017 – Fire systems were not in working condition. The smoke engulfed the ward where 47 neonates were admitted.
2. Bhandra station, Mumbai – October 2017 – Explosion of gas cylinders due to demolition drive by BMC. Around 200-300 houses gutted.
3. Multi-storeyed hosiery unit in Ludhiana – October 2017 – Fire spread rapidly as the fire department was ill-equipped. The unit was allowed to operate in the residential area.
4. Chennai silks – June 2017 – The 7 storeyed building in buzzing streets on TNagar was engulfed in fire – The estimated loss was Rs. 420 crore and the structure had a series of fire safety and building code violations.

The infographic here shows some of the worst fire accidents so far in India 

The fire accidents have happened because of four reasons:

• Violation of fire safety laws
• Lack of fire safety awareness
• Poor implementation of fire safety laws by the authorities
• “Nothing will happen to us” attitude of citizens

Fire accidents can happen anywhere, anytime and to anyone. We have to be more vigilant and extremely careful in preventing fire. Preventing fires by following even existing fire safety laws and creating awareness are two important ways to address fire safety at all the times. These are all man-made disasters and much more are waiting to happen if we do not take fire safety seriously.

Sources:

www.ndtv.com

www.wikipedia.org

NCRB 2011-2015

The fire accident in the 24-story Grenfell tower in London, in June 2017, claimed over 70 lives and injured 79 people. It is one of the worst disasters in the world and the incident threw a light to the fire safety concerns on high rise buildings across the globe.

In India, the horrific Carlton Towers accident in Bengaluru in the year 2011, took the lives of 9 and injured 69 people. The recent Kamala Mills fire accident in Mumbai which claimed 14 lives gave a burning concern over the fire safety in India.

The real estate industry saw a tremendous growth in the last decade. There are many fully occupied high-rise or multi-story buildings in major cities or many are still under construction.

What is a high-rise building?

A building above 15 meters in height is commonly called as a high-rise building in India. (Roughly ground plus four floors)

The high-rise buildings are in the form of apartments, malls, hospitals or multiplexes in most of the urban areas of India.

Why is fire safety important in high-rise buildings?

When you plan to watch a movie in a multiplex, have you ever considered making a note of the fire exits? Or if you live in an apartment, have you ever checked the fire safety system of the building?

Fire safety always takes a back burner in India. We do not emphasize on being proactive. Majority of the population are still not aware of the fire hazards or they do not even know how to react when there is a fire. Fire safety system helps us to prevent fire. It also helps us to understand the nature of fire and what steps we should take when there is a fire accident.

What are the challenges?

High-rise buildings say an apartment, have a lot of people living in it. Given the multiple floors, in case of a fire accident, it makes evacuation very difficult as there are a lot of people who have to travel vertical distance on the stairs.

A proper fire safety system which includes fire sprinklers, help to control fire and helps to avoid casualties.

Challenges for firefighters during emergencies

1. As the firefighters have to travel a great vertical distance, evacuation becomes very much difficult
2. As there is no awareness to fire safety, most often, the occupants do not know how to escape in the wake of an emergency. They are not even aware of the fire exit paths.
3. It takes time for firefighters to find out the cause of the fire in high-rise buildings

Violation of safety laws

Violation of fire safety laws is one of the major causes of fire accidents in India. Every building in India needs to comply with the state guidelines. Many states adopt The National Building Code (NBC). Hence, the fire safety rules are different in every state.

Violation of safety laws have a serious impact as the country is overpopulated and a fire accident could lead to many fatalities. Fires also damage livelihoods most often and so in a sense can destroy years of having built a business or enterprise.

In our country, unfortunately finding loopholes is easier than compliance. There is a laxity in every level, not just the authorities but also the general public who do not take fire safety seriously.

Common Causes of fire accidents

1. Electrical short-circuit – Faulty electrical system and malfunctioning circuit breakers are one of the leading causes of electrical fires. Or Heating equipment in contact with combustible materials like cloth or wood.
2. Kitchen fires due to unattended cooking or LPG and microwaves
3. Intentional fires like arson
4. Careless smoking
5. Children playing with matchsticks and candles

How to prevent fire in high-rise buildings?

1. Fire safety system – A fire safety system like a fire extinguisher, smoke alarms, sprinklers, hydrants, etc, ensures that a building has all the essential resource that is helpful in case of a fire accident. As mentioned earlier, high-rise buildings are more challenging and firefighting becomes complicated. Hence, a building equipped with firefighting like automatic sprinklers helps to curb a fire before a firefighter could reach from outside.

2. Evacuation Challenges: In high-rise buildings evacuation also consumes a lot of time as the inmates have to be brought to safe areas slowly and through fire exits and stairways

3. Compliance with fire safety laws – Fire safety rules are designed to protect people and property. It also helps us to identify the potential hazards and eliminate them with the help of safety measures.

4. Fire drills – Fire drills help us to be prepared and educate every individual of their responsibility. Fire drills are also very important to ensure that the occupants are familiar with the sound of the smoke alarm, the numbers to dial and exit routes.

5. Regular inspection & safety audit – Fire safety does not end with installing fire safety equipment, there has to be a regular inspection. The inspection should be carried out by the fire department or authorities in every jurisdiction. Surprise inspections by the authorities are also the best way to ensure safety at all the times. Having said that, it is also the role of every association or owners to ensure thorough maintenance of fire safety equipment in their community.

6. Clear exit paths and safe assembly point – The exit paths of a building must be clearly marked and always clutter free. There should be a safe assembly/meeting point outside the building.

These are just a few small steps to ensure the fire safety in a premise that you live in.

Image Source: http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2017/06/17/525600/500-residents-died-in-London-tower-fire-

Beyond Carlton was born from the ashes of the Carlton Towers fire accident in 2010 that killed 9 and injured 68. A clear case of violation of guidelines.