KCC inspection department must wake up

Editor,DOES Kigali City Council inspect the nightclubs and bars? If so, either KCC is lax in its inspections or it has not established adequate inspection standards.The cause of nightclub and bar fires is smoking, cooking, electrical (due to overload) or incendiary. Incendiary fires make up the majority of the fires that engulf nightclubs. Some standards that KCC must require of nightclubs and bars are the installation of automatic sprinklers and clear exit signs. Also, smoking inside must be prohibited.The reason I am saying this is that a smoldering cigarette can cause fire. If fire erupted where people were alert and exit signs are easily recognizable, then this may not cause a problem.But imagine if fire erupted in the wee hours when the nightclub or bar is full of drunken patrons whose reaction is slow or non-existent.The number of casualty might be high. The cause of electrical fires includes wiring, lighting, and use of music equipment and dance floor lights. It must be noted that some bars and nightclubs were not wired for that purpose.Ordinary buildings, such as apartments, are converted into places of social entertainment. Often, the original wiring system is not changed, even though the new establishment will require more power for their equipment.Fat fryers often cause kitchen fires if left without turning off the fire completely. Also causing kitchen fire is the use of cooking gas. If not turned off completely, the gas may cause fire.Michael Rwiyamilira, USA(Response to a story ‘Fire guts Kigali’s top nightclub’ The Sunday Times, November, 18)

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KCC inspection department must wake up