LPG Fire incidents in Bangalore

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.

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SAR operations

Search and rescue operations mount for crashed helicopter engaged in quake relief task

BEIJING, June 1 (APP) The Chengdu Military Area Command has launched search and rescue operations after a military transport helicopter engaged in quake relief work crashed on Saturday afternoon. The helicopter was returning from a mission to carry epidemic prevention experts to Lixian county when it encountered strong turbulence and fog and crashed, the state media reported Sunday. A crew of four and 10 injured local residents were on board for transfer when the Mi-171 helicopter with the quake relief troops of the Chengdu Military Area Command crashed at 2:56 p.m., the Xinhua news agency referred the military sources as saying. The sources further said that the military transport helicopter deployed in quake relief work near the Yingxiu Township, Wenchuan County in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province when it crashed on Saturday afternoon.
Chinese President Hu Jintao, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, has instructed local authorities to immediately carry out search and rescue operations. Hu, who is overseeing quake relief operations in Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province, has also instructed vice chairman of the Central Military Commission Guo Boxiong to fly to front line to direct relevant operations.

MODERN FIRE STATION IN BANGALORE

Hebbal's Brand New Fire Station

Source: Deccan Herald

http://deccanherald.com/Content/Sep172007/metromon2007091625606.asp

The Embassy Group along with Manyata Promoters gifted the long awaited fire station to the residents of North Bangalore recently. The new fire station, located at Manyata Embassy Business Park will enhance the safety of infrastructure of Hebbal and its surrounding areas. M P Prakash, Minister for Home, Law and Human Rights and Parliamentary Affairs, inaugurated the fire station.

The fire station for Hebbal was initially sanctioned by the Government of Karnataka in 1985 but the same was opened around 10 kms away in the premises of the High Ground fire station at Seshadri Road. However, in order to suit the purpose in the best possible manner, a relocation of it was proposed and Manyata Embassy Business Park not only provided the land but has also constructed the building at a cost of Rs 3 Crores.

The fire station will have 57 officals working in two different shifts. It will be completely equipped with all necessary fire fighting equipment including four primary vehicles and a number of support vehicles. Two primary vehicles with a capacity of 4,500 litres and another with 9,000 litres and a ladder of 37 metres will meet the safety needs of the area.

This initiative by the Embassy Group and Manyata Promoters has ensured that the fire station has been relocated to the area which it was originally sanctioned for by the Government of Karnataka.

18 injured in fire accident at lubricant shop
Staff Reporter
Of them, 17 are personnel from the Fire Services
A sub-inspector of police is also among the injured
The condition of three of the injured personnel
is serious Photo: Bhagya Prakash. K.

The injured personnel being taken to hospital in Bangalore on Friday and at right, the shop where the fire broke out.

Bangalore: As many as 18 persons were injured in a fire accident that occurred at a lubricant shop at Nagasandra Circle, near Tata Silk Farm, here on Friday. Speaking to The Hindu, Alok Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), said that 17 fire personnel and a traffic sub-inspector were injured. The names of the victims from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services were given as Sanna Madappa, T.B. Madappa, Rangaswamy (leading fireman), Suresh, Suresh (Fire Services photographer), Munikrishna (Assistant Fire Officer), Nagaraj (leading fireman), Chikka Mariappa (leading fireman), Venkatesh, Gangadhar, Mallaiah, Chandru, Jayaram Singh, Narayanappa, Lakshmi Narasimhamurthy, Abbaiah and Narasimhamurthy. He gave the name of the Sub-Inspector (Basavanagudi Traffic Police Station) as Ramu. Mr. Alok Kumar said that the accident occurred at around 8.30 p.m. The owner of the shop reportedly tried to douse the fire himself. After several unsuccessful attempts, he called the police and the Fire Services. He said that the fire personnel managed to control the fire and were in the process of putting it out completely when a spark fell on an open oil container which caught fire and burst. The injured personnel were shifted to two hospitals. Soon after the incident, the area was cordoned off and barrels containing oil were removed from the shop and dumped on the road. T. Sunil Kumar, Director, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, said that the accident occurred when the personnel were trying to put out the fire. “It happened quickly. Six have been admitted to a private hospital, while the others are in Victoria Hospital,” he said.Compensation About compensation for the staff injured, he said that the amount had not been worked out yet. “Our concern is to ensure that the injured personnel get the best treatment. We will look into the issue of compensation later,” he added. A medical officer at Victoria Hospital, on condition of anonymity, said that the injured were brought to the hospital at around 8.45 p.m. “They were all given treatment. The personnel are all aged between 45 and 55. They have all sustained 50 per cent to 60 per cent burns.” The condition of three fire personnel is said to be serious. About the possibility of infections, he said that it was too soon to speak about it. “The personnel responded positively to the treatment. With proper care and treatment, they may not contract any infection and can be cured completely,” he added. The injured fire personnel were later shifted to a private hospital

For more information http:///www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2007/10/13/stories/2007101360230100.htm

FIRE PREVENTION

01. Fire prevention is every body's job.
02. Over the years the primary objective of the fire service has been the control and extinguishment of unfriendly fires. Although this will continue to be a major function of the fire service, there is increasing emphasis on fire prevention as an objective of the fire service's efforts and on making use of fire fighting personnel for fire preventive duties.
03. In the modern fire science, preventing the outbreak of fire and preventing the serious spread of fire are considered equally as essential to public safety as proficiency in fire fighting procedures.
04. Historically, as early as 300 B.C. the Romans established a Fire Department, composed primarily of slaves. The program was un-successful and the department was converted into a paid force in the year 6 A.D. This proved successful. By 26 A.D. the full time force in the Rome was grown to 7,000 men.
05. The firemen of the Rome patrolled the streets in their efforts to bring about proper fire prevention procedures. They were granted the authority to administer corporal punishment to offenders of fire codes and were provided with rods for use in administering such punishment.
06. According to history, in the year 872, a bell was used in Oxford, England, to signal the time for the extinguishment of all fires. From this appropriate time for "covering" of fires developed the Norman words couvre feu (cover fire), which later became the English word curfew.
07. In the year 1189 the Mayor of London ordered that "no house should be built in the city but of stone and they must be covered with slate or tiled". This was not fully implemented and the importance was realized during a fire occurred in the year 1212, claiming 3,000 lives.
08. In 1666, a major fire struck London. This fire referred to as the Great Fire of London, burned for four days and destroyed five sixths of the city, yet only six deaths occurred. This was because of adopting of appropriate fire preventive measures, which had slowed the spread of fire.
09. In Indian History Kautilya or Chanakya, in his famous book 'Arthashastra', has dedicated two chapters on fire prevention. He has suggested severe punishment like fine, imprisonment and capitol punishment for violation of fire preventive measures. He suggested to keep, two pitcher full of water, one rope, one ladder, one sickle, in each hut as fire preventive and fire fighting equipment. He also suggested to store water, in bigger pitchers, at the junction of all the roads.
10. The method suggested and enforced by Kautilya was simple. In case of fire use stored water from the pitchers. If fire is spreading use the sickle to cut that portion. If the fire is still spreading tie the rope to the hut and pull it down. Use ladder for climbing and pushing the huts to make a fire gap. Even then, if the fire is beyond control, use the water from the road junctions to put out the fire. In his opinion fire destroys a nations economy, to prevent it enforce fire preventive measures, strictly

Fire Safety For Childrens

FIRE SAFETY FOR CHILDREN
01. Children and youngsters are fond of burning crackers.
02. Every year during Deepavali, a large number of people across the country lose their eye sight and sustain burn injuries and loose their lives also.
03. These accidents can be avoided by fallowing few simple precautionary measures.DO'S AND DON'T'S.
An adult should always supervise the use of fireworks by children.
Check the surroundings before igniting the fireworks. Ensure that all the inflammable and combustible materials are removed from the vicinity.
If it is not possible to remove the combustible materials from the vicinity, change your location and move to an open area to light the crackers.
Follow all the safety precautions mentioned on the box of crackers. Foot wear shall be worn to avoid burn injuries to feet.
Do not hold the crackers/flower pots in your hand and light it. It may burn your hands and your face.
Use a candle or agarbatti of sufficient length to ignite the fireworks. It gives a safe distance between your hand and the crackers.
Do not bend over the crackers/flower pots/bombs/rockets etc while lighting them. They may injure your face and eyes. Light them from the side without bending over them.
It is always better to wear protective goggles while lighting the crackers/bombs/rockets/etc. Due to explosion, mud, dust, splinters, sparks etc may injure your eyes.
Use fire works only outdoors.
Light only one firework at a time. Lighting serials of hundreds and thousands will pollute the area by it's noise and smoke.
Keep clean and cool water handy. Apply clean and cool water in case of a burn injury. Apply water continuously till the qualified Doctor arrives and treats the burn injury.
Keep a fire extinguisher or water in drums/buckets to douse any fire at it's incipient stage. In the event of a fire contact Central Fire control Room over Telephone Number 101, 22971500/22971550 and 22971600.

Mumbai: Fire in Mall

Times of India
Fire in Vashi mall fuels big safety worries
22 May 2008, 0449 hrs IST,
Vijay Singh & Devraj

Dasgupta,TNN
NAVI MUMBAI: Memories of Delhi's ghastly Uphaar fire tragedy, which claimed 59 lives back in 1997, were uppermost on the firemen's minds when they arrived at the City Centre mall on Palm Beach road here at 9 am and saw smoke billowing out of the four-storeyed structure. The inferno was in the food court adjacent to the Cinemax multiplex on the fourth floor. The first show was to begin at 10 am and the mall too was yet to open. Although an entire wing of seven food stalls was gutted, no one was injured. Fortunately, the fire did not spread to the multiplex. Firemen refused to go on record as to the likely cause of the blaze. However, unofficially, they indicated that electrical problems had sparked it off. The incident has brought to light serious shortcomings and irregularities regarding fire safety in the four-storey mall. Navi Mumbai fire chief R T Mhatre told TOI: "The mall's sprinkler systems, where the food court is located, were not on ‘auto mode', which is why the fire flared up and destroyed seven outlets in the food court. If the system could have detected either the smoke or the fire, the water sprinklers would have automatically been triggered and extinguished the fire at the very outset." The fire brigade got the first call from City Centre at 8.50 am on Wednesday; 12 fire engines were rushed over the next one hour. One wing of the food court, made largely of plastic, was gutted and furniture, flooring and mini-pantries reduced to cinders. The food outlets were still smouldering at noon, long after the fire had been doused. The shops were charred beyond recognition. Worse, shops on floors below the food court had their electrical connections badly damaged. "Apart from the faulty sprinklers, we had earlier also noticed that the four fire/emergency exits of each level of the mall were not totally clear of obstacles. On the first floor for example, the Croma shop has come up right at the spot where the fire/emergency exit should be," said Mhatre. He added that because of these discrepancies, the mall has still not been given the final NOC from the fire department. "At present we have only given a provisional and conditional NOC to City Centre; the final NOC will only be given after the mall meets all the fire safety requirements. It is indeed fortunate that there were no customers in the mall at the time of fire," Mhatre said. The mall houses 113 shops and has been operational for the last six months on a conditional NOC from the Navi Mumbai fire brigade. City Centre general manager Shahul H Kader disagreed with Mhatre. "Our sprinkler systems are fully functional, there is no doubt about it. All the four fire exits on each level are also open." Asked why the Croma showroom had come up where one of the fire/emergency exits should be, Kader said: "Yes, one of the exits does pass through the Croma shop; but we will alter it soon as per the fire department's guidelines in order to procure the final NOC."