Delhi Fire Chief Says Five-Minute Response Time 'Highly Unrealistic' After Fatal B&B Fire
Delhi's Fire Chief Abhilash K. Malik stated that the five-minute response time mandated by national guidelines is unrealistic given the city's growth and traffic conditions, following a June 3 fire at Flourish Stays that killed 22 people. The fire reached flashover point in less than a minute due to the building's design features including rubber-sealed windows and lack of ventilation. The chief outlined systemic challenges including manpower constraints and proposed solutions including new fire stations and incentive-based fire safety equipment installation.
Delhi Fire Services Chief Abhilash K. Malik told The Hindu that achieving a five-minute emergency response time is impractical for the capital, citing rapid urban growth and traffic congestion. His comments came after reviewing the June 3 fire at Flourish Stays bed and breakfast in Malviya Nagar, which killed 22 people including at least a dozen foreign nationals. Fire tenders took approximately 20 minutes to arrive after the initial call. The chief identified critical factors in the rapid spread: the building reached flashover point (where all exposed materials ignite simultaneously) in less than a minute, compared to 15-17 minutes in older buildings, due to rubber-sealed windows, false ceilings, and poor ventilation. The building's single staircase, which opened directly to the ground floor and contained fire hazards, further complicated evacuation. The DFS has requested approval for 9,123 personnel and submitted a 25-year expansion plan including eight new fire stations annually, technology upgrades, and a "Har Ghar Surakshit" scheme offering tax incentives for residential fire safety installations.
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Five-minute fire response time in Delhi ‘highly unrealistic’, says Chief Fire Officer
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