How Exit Able are your Emergency Exits? Over 64 Dead in Russian Mall Fire

This story made me wild because many deaths were preventable if emergency exits had been accessible and unlocked. National Radio NZ covered the story and a transcript can be read here: Russia mall fire: Shopping centre exits ‘were blocked’

 

What Happened?

• On Sunday 25^th March 2018, a fire broke out on an upper floor in the Winter Cherry Mall, in Kemerovo, Siberia. It was opened in 2013, and at 23,000 sq m and opened in it is the largest mall is Russia.
• The fire took hold quickly and covered about 1,500 sq m. The roof on the fourth floor collapsed and engulfed a children’s trampoline room, bowling alley and cinema.
• A fire safety technician at the complex “switched off the alarm system” after being alerted that there was a fire and no emergency lighting came on
• On a Facebook post, Kemerovo politician Anton Gorelkin said that:
• “fire exits were shut, turning the complex into a trap”
• “there was no organised evacuation“.
• a fire extinguisher that could have doused the flames at the start did not work
• People literally jumped from windows to escape the blaze.

 

Who were the victims?

• At least 64 people including 41 children
• The fire also destroyed a petting zoo, all of whose animals are reported to have died

 

What happened afterwards

• Some 660 emergency personnel were deployed in the rescue effort many were traumatised when they found burnt dead bodies behind locked emergency exit doors.
• A day later, the building was still smouldering and the remaining structures at risk of collapse.
• Rossiya 24 TV, a national broadcaster, said an electrical fault was the most likely cause – as in most previous deadly fires in Russia
• Seven people have been arrested in the aftermath of the blaze, including Yulia Bogdanova the General Director of the firm that owned the mall

 

What caused the fire?

“Investigators have not confirmed the cause of the fire but said they have obtained evidence of “flagrant violations” that contributed to the heavy loss of life, including blocked fire escapes.”

 

What can you do to check your worksite is safe? Start with your Emergency Exits!

1. Check emergency exits are clear
2. Check your fire extinguishers are correct for your worksite, are in date and functioning
3. Have a designated emergency assembly point
4. Have at least two emergency evacuation drills a year
5. Remove unnecessary combustible materials from the site as soon as possible (piles of cardboard etc).

 

Have a safe and productive week

 

SB