BANGALORE: Over the past five months there have been 641 fire accidents in Bangalore. Of these, 42 were caused by LPG cylinder leakage and 126 by electric short circuits. Statistics such as these draw attention to the fact that fire accidents are becoming a matter for concern. B.G. Chengappa, Joint Director of Fire Services, says that fire accidents occur mainly because LPG cylinder users are not aware of its nature and potential risks. In LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinders, the gas regulator allows pressurised LPG to flow in its gaseous form to the burner. The gas is colourless and has a faint smell owing to the addition of a chemical compound "mercaptan." Highly inflammable LPG is highly inflammable and can burn even at some distance from the source of leakage.
Most fire accidents are caused either owing to a poor-quality rubber tube or because the regulator is not turned off. Mr. Chengappa explains that even when the stove knob is turned off, the supply of gas from the regulator to the burner is on. If the knob turns on by accident, the gas leaks. An official of Bharat Petroleum says that the rubber tube, which connects the cylinder to the stove, must be in good condition. Cockroaches or rodents are attracted to the food residue on the tube and damage the rubber. Hot vessels or splashing oil may also burn a hole in the tube. Once there is a gas leakage, lighting a match or switching on a light or a fan is enough to ignite the gas and cause the cylinder to explode. Never keep the stove at a lower level than the cylinder, advises Mr. Chengappa. "Several homes have the stove placed on the ground, below the cylinder owing to which LPG may flow out. This liquefied gas spreads even faster, thus magnifying the danger," he says. Electrical fires are another cause of accidents. They are caused when too many types of equipment are connected to the domestic power line. The overload causes the wire insulation to melt and a short circuit occurs. Old light fittings and switches also cause short circuits. Unattended irons, heater coils and other heating elements also lead to fire accidents.
No comments:
Post a Comment