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Wednesday, 7 April 2010
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This fire illustrates just how vulnerable some of our historic town centres are to fire spread from building to building, particularly at high level, from roof to roof. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is to be commended for their approach to the historic town centre of Chester, with the work being done to understand the complexities of the buildings and the subsequent risk of fire spread.
MUMBAI: Just the way a peer’s passing reminds one of one’s own mortality, the inferno that engulfed Stephen Court in Kolkata, claiming 24 lives, has reminded Mumbai of the vulnerability of its own heritage structures.
While potential disasters lay strewn about South Mumbai, which has its A-list of historic old buildings, fire brigade and ambulance services can hardly access the city’s narrow gaothans in an emergency.
“Structures built 100 to 150 years ago were not constructed using RCC, that is cement and concrete. That technology came later,” says chief fire officer Uday Tatkare. “Buildings in those days used a lot of wood, which is a highly combustible material, unlike RCC, which is fire resistant.” Timber, however, does take longer to burn, while steel frames can twist and simply cause a building to collapse.
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This fire illustrates just how vulnerable some of our historic town centres are to fire spread from building to building, particularly at high level, from roof to roof.
ReplyDeleteCheshire Fire and Rescue Service is to be commended for their approach to the historic town centre of Chester, with the work being done to understand the complexities of the buildings and the subsequent risk of fire spread.