Most commuters did nothing to change their routine when the London Underground caught fire in 1987. And at a soccer pitch in Bradford several years ago, fans were so intent on the game that they ignored the flames as an entire section of the stadium burnt down. This kind of behaviour has led to terrible tragedies, because if the fire gets out of control, people have a very short time to get out of the building.

Here are two examples, both of which happened in 2005:

January 7, Siddhirganj, Bangladesh. A fire breaks out in a garment factory, killing at least 22 people who were trapped inside because the exits were locked; it is believed that faulty wiring caused the fast-moving fire.

January 12, Northern Shanxi province, China. An explosion in a fireworks factory kills at least 25 workers, most of them young women.

Fire Hazard

A fire hazard is any situation in which there is a greater than normal risk of damage to people or property caused by fire. It can be a clogged-up cooling vent or burdened electrical system, which can easily start a fire; or an inadequately protected fuel store or areas with elevated oxygen concentrations, which can cause it to spread rapidly; and materials that emit toxic fumes when heated or blocked fire exits pose a threat to people in the building. Since high-rise buildings are too tall for satisfactory fire control from ground-based aerial ladders or elevating platforms or towers, they are considered a special type of fire hazard.

The most common causes of residential and office fires are:

1. Hot plates, electric coffee makers, portable electric heaters, etc. short out
2. In older buildings the insulation on wires and cables gets brittle and can create short circuits and fire
3. Arson
4. Smokers that toss their cigarettes or matches into dustbins and it catches fire
5. Kitchen fires where people either forget they have something on the stove or they overheat oil or another substance.

Emergency Fire Exits

It is vital that there be enough fire exits so that people can safely and quickly leave the building without being put at risk should there be an occurrence of fire. The combined use of regular and special fire exits permits faster mass departure, while it also gives another alternative if the route to the usual exit is blocked by fire, etc. These exits should have an outward opening door with a crash bar and outward leading signs on it, and they should be strategically located.

Number And Size Of Exits

Several factors, including the number of people who could potentially use the exit, will decide the amount of fire exits used in any situation. Taking into consideration the time it takes for people to react to a fire alarm, the time taken to leave the building should be about 2 minutes 30 seconds. Fire exits should be spread around the building so ensuring that people can reach a safe exit route. All doors that are used in an emergency need to open in the direction that people are moving in to evacuate the building.

Fire exit routes must be kept clear at all times. A common sight in larger buildings, fire doors should, where possible, be included as part of your fire protection measures. Current disability discrimination legislation calls for the provision of suitable fire exits for disabled people. A fire assembly point is a place of safety where people meet if there is a fire.

The best time to think about fire exits and general safety is before a fire starts.