Ctg fire dept marking risky buildings
The department of Fire Service and Civil Defence has begun marking buildings in the port city that are vulnerable to fire emergencies, putting cautionary notices in front of the establishments.
They put banners in front of Riyajuddin Bazar and Tama Kumundi Lane market under Kotwali Police Station yesterday.
Fire department also requested people in the areas to take maximum precautions while living and going into those buildings.
On Saturday, the department officials put notices on four other risky high-rises -- Karnaphuli Tower at Kajir Dewri, Mahal Market at Anderkilla, and Jahur Hawkers' Market and Municipal Hawkers' Market at Kotwali.
“We are currently putting banners in front of risky buildings that do not have proper safety measures. Later, we will conduct mobile courts with magistrates of the district administration,” said Jashim Uddin, deputy assistant director (DAD) of the department.
“If the owners of the buildings do not take necessary steps to ensure safety, they will be fined and sent to jail,” said Jashim.
Some buildings might be sealed off after necessary warning, the deputy assistant director added.
Purna Chandra Mutsuddi, another deputy assistant director at the department informed that high-rises up to six-storeys should have two-tiered and over six-storey high-rises must have a three-tiered safety system.
The three-tiered safety system constitutes at least one fire extinguisher weighing minimum five kilogrammes within each 550 square feet area; a hose-reel for every 10,000 square feet area; an overhead water tank connected with the hose-reels; and fire hydrants/risers connected with the tank.
Moreover, there should be an underground reservoir with at least 500 gallons of water connected with one electric pump, one diesel-run pump, and a jockey pump, said Purna Chandra.
All these pumps must remain active all the time, he added.
The two-tiered safety system requires one fire extinguisher in every 1,000 square feet area, and hose-reels at every floor and automatic sprinklers on the ceiling of every floor.
He also informed that all readymade garment factories and 30 percent of other industrial buildings in Chattogram have this safety system, while only three percent of residential high-rises in the city have it.
Among the hotels, only Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View, Hotel Agrabad, and Hotel Peninsula maintain the system, said Purna Chandra.
They will be conducting drives in Chandgaon Residential area, and Jolsha Market in New Market area today, he added.
Meanwhile, a team of Chittagong Development Authority led by special magistrate Mohammad Saiful Alam Chowdhury also conducted a drive at Tama Kumundi Lane market yesterday to identify risky establishments.
Officials of the Chittagong Development Authority informed that all 18 residential areas and industrial factories of the port city would be inspected for proper fire safety.
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