MUMBAI: At least 51 lives have been lost to hospital fires in Maharashtra in the past 14-15 months, putting the spotlight on how both public and private facilities have failed miserably to prevent such incidents.
Majority of these fires were in Covid-19 hospitals, where the patients were either strapped to oxygen or life-support, which hindered their chances of escaping or being rescued promptly.
Fire experts have pointed out that Covid wards and ICUs could become tinder boxes with alcohol from sanitizers lingering in the air. Rich oxygen supply for patients can be the perfect fuel, should there be even a minor leak in the pipeline or cylinders. Above all, the absence of firefighting tools, along with the lack of stringent audits at hospitals, is proving to be a lethal combination for patients.
The year started with a devastating fire at the Bhandara District Hospital that led to the death of ten infants. It was followed by multiple incidents in Mumbai. The November 6 fire at Ahmednagar Civil Hospital, which claimed the lives of 11 Covid patients, had broken in the ICU. Preliminary investigation has found that the fire-fighting equipment was inadequate.
Ex-chief fire officer Pratap Khargopikar said that prevention is key. For that, hospitals must have good fire detection systems, such as alarms. “Whether it is a temporary or permanent structure, all must have a good detection system as it allows people time to escape,” he said. Next would be to have a very competent fire-fighting system.
Fire expert Nilesh Ukunde had previously told TOI that in case of an electrical failure caused due to overuse of machines the heat mixed with the cloud of alcohol expands and a pressure wave is generated. This can cause an explosion and a phenomenon called flashover may engulf beds and curtains.
Khargopikar said that hospitals must start investing in fire retardant paints, curtains and bedsheets. “It’s also important to keep checking wards and ICUs for any oxygen leak,” he said.
A senior fire official from Mumbai said that most Covid care centres were erected as field hospitals in a pandemic situation. “The fire fighting systems were probably not given as much importance. However, even if they were unable to stick to the National Building Code of India (NBC) guidelines, they should set up sprinklers, fire alarms where possible, or station portable water pumps,” he said, adding that the staff must be trained to use the systems.
