Recently there was a fierce fire in a Boulevard flat. The flames were enough to bring tremor in the residents’ hearts. However, because of the alertness of the security, technical and housekeeping teams, as well as because of vigilante residents, the fire was brought under control.
There was no loss of life with God’s grace. The incident was reported in the media too. The society readiness and the residents’ cooperation was praised all over. The following steps were promptly taken in fighting the fire as stated by the AOA in a communication to residents –
• Switching off the IGL pipeline
• Cutting the electricity connection promptly
• Firefighting efforts
It is said that prevention is better than cure. Therefore, the loss preventive measures to avoid recurrence of such incidents is important. Since the summer season was on, the main culprit for such a fire was the AC and other electric appliances.
The AOA therefore issued an important advisory on AC and usage of balconies for pots as a loss preventive measure.
As a good gesture and encouragement, a letter acknowledging the efforts was written by the AOA president to the Fire and Technical, Housekeeping and Security teams for their efforts and swift actions during the fire incident.
Such steps and encouragement to the staff keeps them motivated to act efficiently and goes a long way as a preventive measure to tackle recurrence of unfortunate incidents.
Regular drills are conducted to keep the firefighting staff ready. The firefighting equipment installed on every floor and the hose pipes are inspected monthly; the inspection chart is displayed therein. It is imperative for vigilant residents to check these charts to confirm that regular inspection is being carried out.
All these efforts will, in the long run, help in preventing incidents. When loss occurs, it is not just to the owner; it is a loss also for the society and the nation. Any loss or damage can never be recovered though it may be financially compensated.
Therefore, preventive measures become more important and need to be sincerely carried out by everybody to avoid recurrence of fire incidents.
