Kochi fire puts spotlight on ageing high-rises, demand for aerial rescue platform
A fire that broke out in an unoccupied apartment in the naval residential quarters at Kacheripady in Kochi has brought into focus the fire safety preparedness of several older high-rise buildings in the city. It has also renewed demands for advanced rescue equipment, including an aerial ladder platform, which is currently unavailable with the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services.
Firefighters involved in the operation said the absence of internal firefighting systems made their task considerably difficult. The building lacked fire hydrants and landing valves on each floor, forcing the crew to carry water hoses up to the 10th floor. The blaze, according to fire and rescue sources, was intensified by garbage accumulated inside the unused apartment. Poor accessibility also remained a persistent challenge, with narrow approach roads and inadequate open spaces hampering the movement of fire engines and rescue equipment.
These problems are largely confined to buildings constructed before the Kerala Municipality Building Rules (KMBR), 1984, which made firefighting measures mandatory for high-rise structures. Many such buildings in Kochi predate these rules and continue to operate without essential safety features, raising concerns among residents and safety experts.
The Kacheripady incident has also renewed calls for the procurement of an aerial ladder platform, a specialised firefighting vehicle that enables rescue and firefighting operations at greater heights. The vehicle, also known as a hydraulic platform, allows firefighters to rescue people trapped on upper floors, access rooftops, and deploy water or foam monitors directly from elevated positions during firefighting operations.
"The equipment is essential for the force, especially in a city like Kochi where both residential and commercial high-rises are increasing," said a Fire and Rescue Services officer who has participated in several operations in the city. Sources said that the process to procure the high-value equipment is underway.
Senior Fire and Rescue Services officers, meanwhile, noted that high-rise fire incidents remain relatively uncommon in the State compared to metropolitan cities such as Mumbai and Chennai, which house a large number of older multi-storey buildings. They said annual inspections are conducted to review firefighting arrangements in high-rise buildings, and notices are issued to owners and managements that fail to comply with safety norms.
However, safety experts argue that the growing density of high-rise structures in Kochi warrants a more proactive approach. The absence of an aerial ladder platform, they say, could prove critical in a major fire incident, where time is of the essence. The fire department's current capacity to handle emergencies at considerable heights remains limited, and the need for modern equipment has become more urgent than ever.
The incident at Kacheripady serves as a reminder that urban development must go hand in hand with safety infrastructure. As the city continues to grow vertically, ensuring that older buildings are retrofitted with fire safety measures and that the fire department is equipped to respond to high-rise emergencies should be a priority for the authorities.
