FIRE ALARM
Statistics show that in five years, incidents of fire in Mumbai have gone up by a 1000. Every day, the fire department gets about 70 emergency calls. What’s the problem? …SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI
REASONS
Underground cables: When various authorities dig up roads for a variety of reasons, they often cut through underground electric cables, which create sparks, leading to fire.
Storage of unauthorised scrap material in godowns: Several such godowns are located in Kurla, Mankhurd, Veera Desai Road and the industrial area of Andheri (west). The smallest spark is often enough to set such godowns on fire. Since chemical substances are also stored illegally at various godowns, there are often explosions here, causing injury.
The chulha: Slum dewellers often use the chulha for cooking. It’s one of the biggest causes of fire in these areas, when accompanied by negligence.
PROBLEMS
Bad roads and bridges under construction: Fire engines often have to use longer routes due to roads and bridges being under construction.
Bad attitude: Car, autorickshaw and taxi drivers very often don’t give right of way to fire engines.
Small number of fire stations:
Storage of LPG, PNG, CNG cylinders:
People keep these cylinders just about anywhere, without taking adequate precaution. In many cases, children have easy access to these cylinders. Underground cables: When various authorities dig up roads for a variety of reasons, they often cut through underground electric cables, which create sparks, leading to fire.
Storage of unauthorised scrap material in godowns: Several such godowns are located in Kurla, Mankhurd, Veera Desai Road and the industrial area of Andheri (west). The smallest spark is often enough to set such godowns on fire. Since chemical substances are also stored illegally at various godowns, there are often explosions here, causing injury.
The chulha: Slum dewellers often use the chulha for cooking. It’s one of the biggest causes of fire in these areas, when accompanied by negligence.
PROBLEMS
Traffic: Fire engines find it dif
Bad roads and bridges under construction: Fire engines often have to use longer routes due to roads and bridges being under construction.
Bad attitude: Car, autorickshaw and taxi drivers very often don’t give right of way to fire engines.
Small number of fire stations: