MFB to check fire security of bldgs

Mumbai: In the wake of fire in 33-storey Beau Monde building at Prabhadevi, high-rise buildings and skyscrapers in the city may face inspection from the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB). Taking a cue from difficulties encountered during fire-fighting operations at Beau Monde, the MFB has been contemplating to inspect high-rise buildings to check their fire safety preparedness.

During the fire at Beau Monde, the MFB could not position its snorkels to douse the fire from outside due to lack of open space in the building premises. According to fire safety rules, there should be compulsory open space left for fire vehicles during fire emergency.

Snorkels are the hydraulic platforms, which are used to fight blazes in high-rise buildings. The MFB had carried both its snorkels –90 metres and 70 metres high – to Beau Monde building, which couldn’t be utilized due to lack of space to position them close to fire-fighting exercise.

 The firemen had to carry out operations manually by climbing up to the terrace of the building, from where they doused the fire with the help of the building’s fire fighting system. In this two firemen were injured and had been hospitalised due to suffocation.