Handheld fire extinguishers are one preventative measure which many businesses have in place. However, according to Kahani Tiwari, one of the owners of Pilgrims Book House, which recently got destroyed in the Thamel fire, just having fire extinguishers in place is not enough. [break]
Tiwari says there may have been a moment when the fire extinguishers could have made a difference, but that moment quickly passed. “We had plenty of fire extinguishers,” said Tiwari, “But our people were not trained in their use, and we didn´t have much time to control the fire within the building, so people panicked.”
As fire tend to spread fast, ability to respond quickly is often a key factor, therefore, Tiwari claims, smoke alarm or fire detector would have been more helpful in taking the situation under control than the fire extinguishers.
“The workers at the nearby restaurant banged on our door to warn us but we were closing up. We could hear some noises, but we thought - this is Thamel, there is always something happening,” said Tiwari, pausing to demonstrate the surrounding clamor. “I think a fire alarm could have helped us. We would not have needed to depend on the surrounding store owners to alert us.”
Tiwari says that as a student of hotel management, who was familiar with standard practices and had read many case studies of fires, she blames herself for not taking more careful measures. “I feel so stupid. When I joined my family business why didn´t I take care of these things? I really feel that this is something the government must enforce strictly,” said Tiwari.
While she plans to take all the necessary precautions at the new branch of Pilgrims Books -- no longer relying on cylinders alone and providing training to the staff on extinguishing fire -- she fears that surrounding businesses may not.
“We can make these changes,” said Tiwari, “but I am scared because I cannot control those around me.” Tiwari claims that regulation is needed, with inspections to hold businesses accountable.
“My family feels that while it´s just us who suffered huge losses, it could have been the whole of Thamel because all have bad practices when it comes to storing fuel,” said Tiwari. She compares businesses to children, saying “Kids won´t do things themselves, and need the discipline of mothers and fathers, but I am not the mother of Nepal -- the government is."
Some shopping complexes, such as the Civil Mall in Sundhara, hire security companies to meet regulations. The companies provide guards who are trained in using powder and gas-based extinguishers. According to the operations manager at Civil Mall, who refused to be identified, they have appointed GARUD, a security company, whose guards act as the first line of defense against fires. A separate company also does regular checks of all equipment.
Rajan Shakya, CEO of Kathmandu Guest House, which lay in the path of the recent Thamel fire, feels that implementing the safety regulation is not so simple. He claims that while the Kathmandu Guest House staff is very well trained and the buildings well equipped with alarms, extinguishers, and sprinklers, other businesses may not be able to afford all those things. “Nepal is in a developing stage, and in order to meet international standards you have to be able to spend a lot,” said Shakya.
He also doubts that government regulation is a realistic solution to ensuring that fire extinguishers and safe electrical and fuel storage precautions are taken. Instead, he opts for better education and awareness.
“Our country is not lacking in laws or regulations, but there is no implementation,” said Shakya. “Regulations are only good if they actually regulate, and in a place like Nepal it is very easy to bend rules.”
Shakya believes that the recent fires have served to promote awareness among businesses in the area, and that individual awareness and understanding ultimately will lead to better safety practices and preventative measures.
Kishor Kumar Bhattarai
Chief of Juddha Barun Yantra, Basantapur
With electrical and gas fires, because they spread so quickly and easily, are fire extinguishers a solution? Are small portable fire extinguishers powerful enough?
Fire extinguishers aren´t used on all fires, only on B or C type fires. Fire has classifications of A, B and C types. Fire from burning wood for instance is controlled by water and is type A. Type B and C are not controlled by water. We cannot use water for B because it is a kerosene or petroleum fire, and for C because it is an electric circuit fire -- when we use water on that type of fire the electricity will be conducted to the fire fighter. Fire extinguishers come in different sizes. If a fuel pump fire occurs, you must use a large one, but for a small household fire, a smaller suffices.
Are household fire extinguishers too expensive for an average person?
In our conditions everything is expensive for Nepali people. Everything has to be brought in from abroad, so fire extinguishers are somewhat expensive. But people can still buy them -- there is just no tradition for keeping fire extinguishers at homes. People lack the awareness needed for that type of preparation.
What about more advanced fire control systems, like sprinkler systems and smoke alarms?
These days every large commercial building has to get a fire alarm and sprinklers, or some kind of water producing system. However, this is a new thing in Nepal, so it is extremely expensive and this type of technology is not common because of the cost involved.
Is more strenuous government regulation the answer to safety problems in wiring, fuel storage, and cylinder usage?
Government cannot monitor each and every person´s practices. It surveys some business complexes, but it is not possible to fully investigate everyone. There is a code of conduct which people should follow but most do not follow these rules. People compromise on quality to keep cost low. It is more effective to ensure that each and every person knows safety precautions and rules.
What was the cause of the fire in Thamel and why was it so difficult to control?
In the city area, each and every fire occurs from gas or electrical circuit fire. Thamel´s fire comes from gas cylinders -- every house has them, so fire spreads from one building to another easily. Thamel is a very crowded and congested area, so we had a difficult time controlling the fire. There are some fundamental rules for controlling fire, and we cannot apply the rules in Thamel because there is not sufficient space for the fire fighters to work.
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