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Event Fire Hazards! Where Prevention is Better Than Reaction

Fires are accidents, whose causes are the most diverse and which require intervention methods and techniques adapted to the conditions and needs of each incident.

Fires can spread more or less rapidly depending on their causes, the nature of the material and goods alight, the fire prevention installations (automatic sprinklers), the ways the population is informed and the initiative it shows, as well as the speed and efficiency of the intervening services and of their fire-fighting equipment.

Recently a massive fire broke out at #MakeInIndia event on 15th Feb. 2016 in the evening during a cultural programme at in Mumbai. The fire broke out below the stage during the programme.

There are reports that firecrackers were stored beneath the stage.The sad news is that

there was no scientific audit of the crackers while conducting the fire audit of the stage

and venue. The other worrying factor is that so much combustible, rather than flame

retardant, material was used for the stage and the sets. Cylinders for the pyrotechnic

display were kept near the dias and there was lack of coordination between the decorators and pyrotechnic experts. And strangely, there is no rule that empowers the government to monitor and regulate pyrotechnics.

There’s seems to be a clear gap of communication between Police department and Fire brigade as Police officials were reportedly saying that there were no instructions from Fire Dept.

In the end; by God’s grace that there has been no loss of life. The disaster management plan put in place ensured the safe passage of the people attending the event. All the standard operating procedures (SOPs) were followed. There is no injury.

It was unfortunate, but everybody got out safe including VVIPs, 20,000 to 25,000 people

were there. Luckily, the fire exits were clearly defined. The blaze was brought under

control in quick time by 14 fire engines and 10 water tankers with swift evacuation of

thousands of people.

This incident showed that one needs to be on their toes while taking into account the safety measurements during such mega events.

Here’s All You Need To Know About Handling Fire Related Accidents At Mega Events:

MANAGING FIRE SAFETY

Good management of fire safety is essential to ensure that fires are unlikely to

occur; that if they do occur they are likely to be controlled quickly, effectively and

safely or that if a fire does occur and grow, to ensure that everyone in your

premises are able to escape to a place of total safety easily and quickly.

Planning

It is of fundamental importance to appreciate that planning for effective fire safety

for an event, site or venue should start at the same time as the planning

for all other aspects of the proposed event.

WHAT IS A FIRE RISK AUDIT?

A fire risk audit is an organised and methodical look at your premises and/or

event, the activities carried on there and the likelihood that a fire could start and

cause harm to those in and around the premises.

HOW DO YOU CARRY OUT A FIRE RISK AUDIT?

For a fire to start, three things are needed:

• a source of ignition;

• fuel; and

• oxygen.

If any one of these is missing, a fire cannot start. Taking measures to avoid

the three coming together will, therefore, reduce the chances of a fire occurring.

Identify sources of ignition

You can identify the potential ignition sources at your event or venue by looking for

possible sources of heat, which could get hot enough to ignite material found in

your premises. These sources could include:

• cooking and catering appliances and equipment, including barbecues;

• smokers materials, e.g. cigarettes, matches and lighters;

• electrical, gas or oil-fired heaters (fixed or portable);

• faulty or misused electrical equipment;

• light fittings and lighting equipment, e.g. halogen lamps or display lighting;

• hot surfaces and obstruction of equipment ventilation, e.g. generators;

• naked flames, e.g. candles or gas or liquid-fuelled open-flame equipment;

• flares, fireworks and pyrotechnics;

• natural phenomena (e.g. lightning);

Identify sources of fuel

 Anything that burns is fuel for a fire. You need to look for the things that will burn

reasonably easily and are in enough quantity to provide fuel for a fire or cause it to

spread to another fuel source. Some of the most common ‘fuels’ found at open air

events or venues are:

• flammable liquids and solvents, e.g. cleaning products.disposable cigarette lighters, fuel for generators (whether petrol or diesel), paints, varnishes, thinners and adhesives;

• flammable gases e.g. liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) propane and acetylene;

• displays and stands,

• tents and marquees;

• plastics and rubber, e.g. polyurethane foam-filled furniture and polystyrene-based

display materials;

• upholstered seating and cushions, textiles and soft furnishings, such as hanging

curtains and clothing displays, costumes, drapes and hangings, scenery and

banners;

• packaging materials, litter and waste products, particularly finely divided items

e.g. stationery, advertising material, decorations, shredded paper and wood

shavings, timber off cuts, and dust;

• fireworks and pyrotechnics;

• temporary floor coverings;

• vehicles in the venue or at car parks.

Identify sources of oxygen

The main source of oxygen for a fire is in the air around us. Events and venues open to the air are more likely to be affected by high winds that may increase the fire growth rate and fire spread. Sources of oxygen can sometimes be found in materials used or stored on the site such as:

• Some chemicals (oxidising materials)

which can provide a fire with additional

oxygen and so help it burn.

• Oxygen supplies from cylinder

storage.

• Fireworks which contain oxidising materials and need

to be treated with great care.

Evaluate the risk of a fire occurring

In general, fires start in one of three ways:

• accidentally, such as when smoking materials are not properly extinguished or

when display lights are knocked over;

• by act or omission, such as when electrical equipment is not properly maintained

or disposable barbecues are placed into waste bins containing combustibles..

• deliberately, such as an arson attack involving setting fire to rubbish bins placed

too close to temporary structures such as tents or marquees.

Look critically at your event or venue and try to identify any ‘accidents waiting to

happen’ and any acts or omissions which might allow a fire to start.

Remove or reduce sources of ignition

There are various ways that you can reduce the risk caused by potential sources

of ignition, for example:

• ensure that flares and fireworks are not brought into the event or venue by

members of the public;

• ensure that all pyrotechnics, fireworks, flares and other hazardous equipment

are installed, used, maintained, protected and stored in accordance with the

manufacturer’s instructions;

• wherever possible replace a potential ignition source by a safer alternative;

• replace naked flame and radiant heaters with fixed convector heaters. Restrict

the movement of and guard portable heating appliances;

• restrict/control the use of naked flames e.g. campfires, barbecues, candles;

• operate a safe smoking policy;

• ensure electrical, mechanical and gas equipment is installed, used, maintained,

and protected in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions;

• ensure cooking and catering equipment is installed, used, maintained, and

protected in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions;

• control areas where vehicles are parked;

• take precautions to avoid arson.

Remove or reduce sources of fuel

There are various ways that you can remove or reduce the risks caused by

materials and substances, which burn, for example:

• ensure that display materials (including artificial and dried foliage), props, scenery

and stands, are fire retardant, or have been treated to give some fire retardancy;

• reduce stocks of flammable materials, liquids and gases on display in public

areas to a minimum. Keep remaining stock in dedicated storerooms or storage

areas where the public are not allowed to go, and keep the minimum amount

required for the operation of the business;

• ensure that all upholstered furniture, curtains, drapes, tents and marquees, are

fire retardant, or have been treated to give some fire retardancy;

• ensure safe practice with respect to refuelling generators. Use of petrol generators

should be discouraged, wherever possible, in favour of diesel generators;

• develop a formal system for the control of combustible waste by ensuring that

waste materials and rubbish are not allowed to build up and are carefully stored

until properly disposed of, particularly at the end of the day;

• ensure adjacent marquees, temporary structures and other fire hazards are sited

an adequate distance apart;

• ensure scenery and props not in current use on an open stage are stored away

in an approved scenery or prop store.

Remove or reduce sources of oxygen

You can reduce the potential source of oxygen supplied to a fire by:

• not storing oxidising materials near any heat source or flammable materials;

• controlling the use and storage of oxygen cylinders, ensuring that they are

not leaking;

• controlling the use and storage of pyrotechnics and fireworks.

Fire detection and warning systems

The means of giving a warning of fire should be suitable for the particular event or

venue, taking account of its size, layout, number of people likely to be present and

the nature of the event.

At complex events/venues, particularly those accommodating people in different

areas, (e.g. an event), it is likely that a more sophisticated form of warning and

evacuation is required.

It is important to consider the means of communication between staff and

volunteers implementing the emergency plan.

Fire-fighting equipment and facilities

Fire-fighting equipment can reduce the risk of a small fire, e.g. a fire in a wastepaper

bin, developing into a large one. The safe use of an appropriate fire

extinguisher to control a fire in its early stages can also significantly reduce the

risk to other people in the event or venue by allowing people to assist others

who are at risk.

The provision of fire-fighting equipment for outdoor events will vary according to

the local conditions and what is brought on to the site.

Arrangements may need to be made to protect fire-fighting equipment located

outdoors from the effects of frost, vandalism, and theft.

At some events an independent specialist fire team may be employed. Where this

is the case the use of an all terrain vehicle may be necessary to enable them to

reach all areas. A protocol should be agreed between the event organisers, fire and rescue service and fire team to define responsibilities, actions and reporting procedures.

Facilities for fire fighting also include the access routes for fire and rescue service

and other emergency service vehicles. At all outdoor venues you must ensure that

you have provided adequate and appropriate vehicle access to all parts of the

venue. You should also consider how these routes would be affected by the people

at your site or event.

Escape Routes

Once a fire has started, been detected and a warning given, everyone at your

venue or event should be able to escape to a place of total safety unaided and

without the help of the fire and rescue service. However, some people with

disabilities & others with special needs may need assistance from other people.

Escape routes should be designed to ensure, as far as possible, that any person

confronted by fire, is able to turn away from it and escape to a place of reasonable

safety, where, they will be able to go directly to a place of total safety.

Generally simple enclosures found at open air events & venues will require fairly simple

measures to protect escape routes.

Escape time

In the event of fire it is important to evacuate people as quickly as possible from

the locality of the fire. The time available to do this will depend on a number of

factors, including:

• the location of the fire (indoor/outdoor);

• how quickly the fire is detected and the alarm raised;

• the number of people present;

• the type of people present;

• the number and location & width of exits/gateways;

• the presence of features that restrict the flow of people;

• the speed of fire growth;

• the size of your site, event or venue.

Emergency evacuation of persons with mobility impairment

The means of escape you provide must be suitable for the evacuation of everyone

likely to be at your event or venue. People with a disability are often not able to

leave the site or venue quickly. This may be the result of mobility, hearing, vision or

other impairment. Similarly, those who may have some other reason for not being

able to leave the site quickly, e.g. people in a state of undress (stage performers),

elderly customers, or parents with children should be considered separately. This

may require additional planning and allocation of staff roles – with appropriate training.

Use of these facilities will need to be linked to effective management arrangements

as part of your emergency plan. The plan should not rely on fire and rescue service

involvement for it to be effective.

Signs and notices

Signs must be used, where necessary, to help people identify escape routes/exits,

find fire-fighting equipment and emergency fire telephones.

Notices must be used, where necessary, to provide the following:

• Instructions on how to use any fire safety equipment

• The actions to be taken in the event of fire

• To help the fire and rescue service (e.g. to show the location of fire.)

Where your site or venue is used during periods of darkness all signs

and notices should be illuminated by a suitable lighting installation.

All signs and notices should be positioned so that they can be easily seen

and understood.

Partner with an experienced Exhibition Stand Designer who prioritizes safety and creativity to ensure your event not only stands out but also stays secure.