Fire Brigade gets over 6000 emergency calls per year, 73 percent fatalities caused by electrocution
According to officials of the Mumbai Fire Brigade, guidelines require that buildings below 70 metres should have trained staff, while buildings over 70 metres should have a fire safety officer.
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The data states that Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) receives between 6000 and 7000 emergency calls in a year, of which nearly 90% were calls made for fire related complaints. (Express Photo) A recent data survey revealed that nearly 73% of human fatalities during fire incidents were caused due to electrocution after electrical circuit failures. The data states that Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) receives between 6000 and 7000 emergency calls in a year, of which nearly 90% were calls made for fire related complaints.
The data was shared on Thursday by Prabhat Rahangdale, former chief fire officer in MFB and deputy municipal commissioner, disaster management.
“According to the data, 73% of human fatalities in fire incidents reported in the past 10 years were caused due to electrocution. The report also states that majority of fires that are reported in Mumbai are caused due to circuit failures or faults in electrical systems. The culprit, however, isn’t electricity but human errors,” said Rahangdale while speaking at a round-table discussion on fire safety.
This event comes against the backdrop of the new fire safety Bill that was moved in the state Assembly during the Budget Session. Tabled by state Minister for Industries, Uday Samant, the Bill seeks to amend the Maharashtra Prevention of Life Safety Act. Referring to the same, Rahangdale said, “The new amendment says that any building that is 70 metres and above, be it residential or commercial, should mandatorily have a fire officer. Such changes are appreciated but where are you going to get so many qualified fire officers from?”
According to officials of the Mumbai Fire Brigade, guidelines require that buildings below 70 metres should have trained staff, while buildings over 70 metres should have a fire safety officer.
On the timeline of the Bill’s execution, Rahangdale told The Indian Express, “While these amendments have been made, the rules have yet to be prescribed. The implementations should ideally happen within a year’s period. However, if the system delays it, then it could take up to a year as well.”
He further added, “This bill mentions fire audits but what will be the requirements of the fire auditor’s qualifications? There needs to be more clarity on the subject.”
Meanwhile, Jitendra Mehta, president of CREDAI – MCHI (Thane), who was also present at the event, said, “We suggest the creation of a website for co-operative societies, wherein they must upload annual maintenance reports on fire-fighting systems and lifts because they do not have a lot of staff to carry out regular check-ups. Similarly, we recommend a separate website for hotels wherein they upload the same.”
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