Colombo city which has seen much rain, tree fallings, accidents and crisis is sitting on a tinder box which is seldom spoken of. Fires and fire-related issues grab the public’s attention like a match being struck only to burn out soon. As such, fire-related issues are rarely seen to attract the attention of policy makers and administrators.
The recent fire which quickly engulfed a six-storey clothing store on the second cross street in Pettah last month (27 October) and claimed the life of one of the survivors who was hospitalised with smoke inhalation, is a harbinger of the potential tinderbox risk the unplanned area of Colombo poses. The incident once again highlights the fire and emergency response vulnerability of the city of Colombo, with the need for an audit seen as an urgent requirement to prevent greater tragedies. The Pettah tragedy saw 23 individuals, mostly employees of the clothing store hospitalised, with at least six in critical condition, one of whom succumbed to her injuries days later. While the official findings of the ongoing inquiry will likely take days to identify the source of the fire, suspicions are rife that a naked flame from a lamp within the six-storey building led to flammable material catching fire.
Pettah, due to poor city planning and high density building of commercial properties, street-side vendors, and dwellings, is a major fire hazard in the heart of Colombo, the Colombo Fire Brigade told The Daily Morning. According to them, the lack of fire preparedness of such high density populated areas coupled with narrow roads, and short turning radius of street corners and cross roads make it extremely difficult for fire brigade vehicles to position themselves to effectively fire fight or launch rescue operations, in such spaces, particularly when the fire is in a multi-storey building. There were other pockets of such high density construction and population in and around the city of Colombo, which included many shanties, which frequently see fire erupt.
“This part of Colombo is not a planned area. No consideration has been given for vehicle accessibility, there are hardly any fire gaps between buildings. In the buildings which are there, many are old, and lack adequate evacuation facilities or emergency exits. In Pettah, people have built structures as they like, few conform to any regulations. This area in Pettah, particularly the cross streets, are major fire risk areas,” a senior fire official said.
One of the key issues is that those who are involved in commercial activity have not adhered to or implemented any fire safety procedure. There is also a need for a change in attitudes and respect for the City legislation from those who engage in commercial activity in the area. Pettah, in particular, is vulnerable due to the unsafe manner goods are stored, including flammable material. The possible storage of dangerous chemicals is a huge concern, as they could complicate firefighting, and endanger the responders and public with toxic fumes which can be carried far by the wind.
Like in Pettah, and many in other high density populated and built up areas, many often do not comply with Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA) fire regulations, which creates vulnerabilities for fire and public safety. Commenting on the Pettah incident, and the risk posed to the city of Colombo by such unplanned, high density built up areas, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Member of Parliament for Colombo Dr. Harsha de Silva recently stated that there is an urgent need for an audit of building code and CIDA code compliance in Colombo and the suburbs. He stressed that the Urban Development Authority (UDA), CIDA and the Fire Brigade aided by other state and city agencies should conduct an audit as a matter of urgency to identify risk factors and high risk areas.
De Silva pointed out that many constructions, buildings and some high-rise buildings which have sprung up around Colombo, do not comply with CIDA or building codes and as such are rife with hazards. The need for an audit to be carried out by the UDA, CIDA and emergency response services for compliance in the city of Colombo and the suburbs is a timely issue which should be addressed as a matter of priority. If not, the next “big fire” may become, The Fire, Colombo will be known about for years to come. Let us not forget the images and horror of the Grenfell Tower fire of West London in 2017, which claimed the lives of 72 people. Let’s make the Pettah fire of last month our wake up call, and not wait for the next one to act.