Most of the fire incidents take place due to gaps in precautionary or safety measures. Besides infrastructural damages, fire hazards of any intensity also affect business operations, or may even lead to injuries and fatalities, thus incurring loss to life and property and risking employee safety and organizational reputation. As per National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), apartment structure fires account for 10.5 percent of deaths and 21.1 percent of injuries. Risk of fire is especially high in workplaces due to the presence of large amount of heat-generating equipment or tangled power cords. Given that a fire incident can escalate quickly, it is important to understand what leads to the spread of fire and the best practices to avoid it.
Issues need to be addressed on priority:
Types of extinguishers for different classes of fire:
Do’s & Don’ts
To Reduce the Risk of a Fire Outbreak
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Regular maintenance of heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. | Do not plug too many electric appliances in one socket. |
| Install smoke detectors and fire alarms, mainly near potential hazard areas like electricity rooms. | Never store combustible materials in large quantities or in poorly ventilated areas. |
| Keep fire extinguishers in visible and accessible areas. | Avoid using unearthed equipment, defective fuses, and daisy-chaining of extension cables. |
| Avoid using unearthed equipment, defective fuses, and daisy-chaining of extension cables. | Prohibit smoking in the workplace, except in designated areas. |
| Establish and enforce emergency evacuation plans and conduct regular fire drills. | Avoid any delays in addressing potential fire hazards. |
| Have an emergency plan ready and train employees on adequate fire safety measures. | Do not apply paint on or obstruct sprinkler systems or smoke detectors with decorations or other objects. |
| Ensure there are at-least two exit routes, always keep them clear and accessible. | Do not block exits or fire extinguishers with equipment or other objects. |
During a Fire Outbreak
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Immediately alert everyone in the building by activating the fire alarm. | Avoid panicking and reach the emergency exit as fast as possible. |
| Use a staircase. | Abstain from using elevators. |
| In case smoke fills up the area, crouch to get under the smoke and head towards the exit. | Do not re-enter the building until it has been declared safe to do so. |
| Place a wet towel, or newspaper under the door to keep smoke away. | Avoid opening doors that are warm to the touch. |
| If the fire is of low intensity, use a fire extinguisher and aim at the base of the flames. | In case of electrical fires, avoid using water to douse the flames as it may result in electrocution. |
| In case clothes catch fire, drop and roll till the fire is doused. | Do not run as it may accelerate the burning process. |
Emergency Helpline Numbers:
- National Fire Helpline Number:101/112
- Metro cities:
- Noida- +91- 8279983521/7906080469/8299491313
- Gurugram- 0124-2392201, 0124-2392101/102/103, 0124-2373101/102
- Mumbai- 022-26677555
- Kolkata- 22521165,2252 6164,22523170,22522222
- Bengaluru- 080-22971500,22971550,22971600
- Chennai- +91-9445086001, 044-28592101, 044-28553101
- Hyderabad- 040-23442944,23442955
- National Ambulance Toll Free Number:102
