Is Bengaluru prepared for fire emergencies?

With Bengaluru’s status as a global tech hub and the emergence of new trends in architecture and mobility, continued incidents of fire raise questions about the city’s fire safety measures.

Bengaluru: Last month, two Bihar-based migrant workers — Uday Bhanu and Roshan — were tragically killed in a fire at a multi-storeyed building under construction near Seegehalli on Magadi Road. The fire was sparked by an electrical short circuit, and the presence of plaster of Paris and other combustible materials like varnish and plywood intensified the blaze.

Earlier, in January, a fire broke out at the government-run Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre, destroying over 12 labs and causing an estimated loss of over Rs 150 crore. This fire was attributed to improper management and storage of chemicals and inflammable materials.

In another incident during the last week of January, a massive fire at an open parking facility in central Bengaluru’s Srirampuram, known as Jakkarayanakere, reduced at least 150 seized vehicles to ashes. This facility, which covers two acres, is used by the Bengaluru city police to store vehicles seized in criminal cases.

With Bengaluru’s status as a global tech hub and the emergence of new trends in architecture and mobility, these continued incidents of fire raise questions about the city’s fire safety measures.

“While the three primary causes of fire accidents in Bengaluru are grass fires, LPG cylinder explosions and short circuits, 99% of fire-related emergencies are the results of neglect,” said Kamal Pant, former Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KSFES) Director General of Police. 

EVs and rooftop eateries

In the past eight months, the city has recorded more than 10 cases of electric scooters catching fire. More alarmingly, in three instances, entire showrooms selling electric scooters were engulfed in flames after a single scooter ignited, according to KSFES officials. Does this turn the spotlight on poor maintenance of electric vehicles? 

Sowriraajan, Associate Professor at the Fire and Combustion Research Centre at Jain Deemed to be University, said that internationally, electric-related fire accidents are classified under Class C, involving high energy materials. 

“However, in India as such there is no specific class for electric-related fire accidents,” he said. He added that in case of fire caused by the explosion of electric batteries, water cannot be used as an extinguisher as it may lead to electric shock. “Generally, for electricity-related fire accidents, CO2 or water-mist fire extinguishers are advisable,” he noted. 

Moreover, rooftop cafes have become a growing concern in ensuring fire safety. Last year, the Karnataka government imposed restrictions on the mushrooming of rooftop cafes in Bengaluru. The Fire Department submitted a report stating that 90% of rooftop restaurants in the city were operating illegally. In several areas, including Koramangala, even today many semi-rooftop restaurants continue to function despite the ban. A ground-level investigation confirmed that most of these eateries serve customers on the rooftop, defying regulations. 

This apart, new trends in architecture such as the use of aluminium and steel in cladding, has been attributed to increasing the intensity of the blaze at the time of fire accidents. The shift in choice of fabrics from cotton to nylon or polyester in the interiors of homes has also been attributed to adding more risk at the time of a fire accident. 

Safety compliance

Under the Fire Force Act, 2023, buildings taller than 21 metres are classified as high-rise structures and must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Fire Department before construction, as well as a clearance certificate upon completion. 

A former KSFES officer said that large commercial and apartment complexes usually comply with the rules, but smaller establishments—especially those built by irregular builders—frequently violate these rules. “The BBMP is responsible for surveying such establishments and issuing notices, but illegal buildings continue to emerge across the city,” he said. In many industrial areas and on the outskirts of Bengaluru, small businesses that handle inflammable materials operate without proper authorisation. Many assume they do not need an NOC because they are not in high-rise buildings. However, Section 17 of the Fire Force Act mandates that all establishments dealing with inflammable substances obtain fire clearance. Shockingly, many such businesses operate with trade licenses despite lacking Fire Department clearance, with no action taken by civic authorities.

Shedding light on creating general awareness among citizens, Uday Vijayan, Managing Trustee and President of ‘Beyond Carlton’, an NGO working to raise awareness on fire safety, said that fire drills at MNCs in Bengaluru have significantly contributed to increased awareness among people on how to react to fire accidents. However, he observes a gap in implementing the same at domestic setups. 

“In high-rise apartments, residents have a tendency to remove the sprinklers on the rooftop for aesthetic purposes, without realising the potential threat it may cause at the time of a fire emergency. Because, we don’t have ladders which go that high,” he said. 

Readiness check

While it is an unwritten rule to follow all safety regulations to prevent any untoward incidents, residents of the city, especially those living in narrow lanes, are concerned about their safety in the event of a fire. They fear that a fire engine may not be able to access their street, potentially allowing the fire to spread uncontrollably.

Sreelatha R, a resident of Chinnappa Reddy Road in Mahadevapura, expressed her concerns. “Fire spreads fast. But it will take hours for fire engines to reach us due to the bad and narrow roads, coupled with traffic. Even if they did reach, they wouldn’t be able to enter some of the narrow roads in my locality.”

Nataraj Bhat, a resident of the Uttarahalli area, noted that several areas, including Balaji Nagara, Simhadri Layout, Ramanjaneya Nagara, and Chikkallasandra, have narrow bylanes. “These roads are a nightmare to use even on a regular day. When there’s an emergency, the only effective way to reach here would be on two-wheelers or by
walking,” he said.