#Tinderbox rapid city manual#

The humidity hovered between 5% and 10% at the time the Oak Fire gained traction, according to Cal Fire. 'And I think that really contributed to drying out fuels and making this just a combustible scenario in which fires are gonna spread quickly.' 'Right as started, there was a period of very, very low relative humidity levels in California,' Burke said. After the weekend, the wildfire unfurled at a less rapid pace - accumulating to more than 18,000 acres by Tuesday afternoon.īut the conditions that allowed the fire to detonate at such swift speeds remain, and are just a spark away from wreaking more havoc on the region.Ī heat wave that brought triple-digit temperatures for multiple days in succession combined with extremely low humidity contributed to extremely dry fuels, consisting of dead leaves and trees, that accumulated on the ground and allowed the Oak Fire to advance, Marshall Burke, an associate professor of Earth system science at Stanford University, told ABC News. The Oak Fire spread to more than 15,000 acres within two days of it sparking in Mariposa County near Yosemite National Park in California, destroying structures and prompting evacuations of nearby residents. A bone-dry environment combined with scorching temperatures and ample fuel - all consequences of climate change - is what allowed the Oak Fire to spread so rapidly from the moment of ignition, scientists tell ABC News. But within days, it goes back into slumber, while fire-safety lapses continue to exist across the city.By Julia Jacobo, ABC News Jat 1:46 pm EDT It holds inquiries and announces compensation. President of Consumer Protection Federation, Mohali, PS Virdi said, “MC wakes up only after a major disaster.

The absence of a fire control room and emergency lifts with firemen switches was also among the violations. Most showrooms had loose electricity wiring.Īt several industrial units and housing societies, there was no underground static water storage tank of 75,000-litre capacity with a pump, as required under fire-safety rules, and terrace water tanks with at least 10,000-litre capacity were also found missing. Hose reels, smoke detection alarm systems and illuminated exit signs were also found missing in most buildings. The violations included the presence of only a single entry and exit point, which could be dangerous in an emergency.įire extinguishers were missing on many floors and those available did not have the ISI mark.

Through a survey in 2020, the fire department had identified various properties, including high-rise buildings and commercial establishments that did not comply with fire-safety norms. The notices include an ultimatum of 15 days, but even after years, no violating structure has been sealed.

MC commissioner Navjot Kaur said in light of the audit report, directions had been issued to the superintending engineer and to sort out all non-functional equipment within two weeks.Īpart from not ensuring fire safety as its own building, Mohali MC’s annual charade of issuing notices to fire-safety violators has not borne any result over the past several years.ĭespite sending out 600 notices annually for non-compliance of the no-objection certificate for the past four years, the civic body has not penalised even a single violator.

#Tinderbox rapid city manual#

Yet, the audit has found that most of the fire extinguishers at the building are past the expiry date for several years and neither the fire pumps in the basement nor the smoke detectors all over the building are functional, putting lives at risk if a fire emergency were to occur.Įven the fire riser and fire delivery hose box are out of order, while the manual call points on all floors of the building and fire panel in the basement are also not operational. While the Mohali municipal corporation has been dragging its feet in ensuring fire safety arrangements at residential and commercial buildings in the city, it itself is also sitting on a tinderbox.Īn audit carried out by the civic body has found glaring violations of fire-safety norms at its building in Sector 68.Īpart from handling the city’s civic affairs, the corporation also caters to over 1,000 visitors at the five-storey building everyday.