Fire Safety

[waveydavey]

Bearing in mind the recent tragedy in Bangkok, are members aware of any potential death-traps in CM? Places with no fire exits, exits locked or blocked, dangerous working practices etc.?

Not just clubs, it could be bars, restaurants, shopping centres, anywhere.....

I know personally I sometimes go to Hotshots but I can't remember if they have fire exits there or not. Similarly, I wouldn't like to be in the Vista cinema at the top of Kad Suan Kouw if a fire started downstairs. I know there are fire doors in the cinemas but they lead out into a labyrinthe of corridors.

Not a happy subject to start the New Year on but an important one I think.....

[Blinky Bill]

Situational awareness is the key to survival anywhere in the world.

Know where you are and if it is a confined space, know how to get out in a hurry if the need arises. Personally I can't stand noisy, crowded places so I would never have considered going to the Santika Nightclub or similar establishments in the first place.

Also avoid crowds milling in the streets, this is usually a sign of angry or riotous people.

[Flatouthruthefog]

Bearing in mind the recent tragedy in Bangkok, are members aware of any potential death-traps in CM? Places with no fire exits, exits locked or blocked, dangerous working practices etc.?

Not just clubs, it could be bars, restaurants, shopping centres, anywhere.....

I know personally I sometimes go to Hotshots but I can't remember if they have fire exits there or not. Similarly, I wouldn't like to be in the Vista cinema at the top of Kad Suan Kouw if a fire started downstairs. I know there are fire doors in the cinemas but they lead out into a labyrinthe of corridors.

Not a happy subject to start the New Year on but an important one I think.....

Not happy, but extremely wise! An excellent thread start-up. Good thinking, Wavey!

Some 6 years back I heard from some outraged American expats that the big (by N.Thai standards) theatre at the top of Kad Suan Kaew had all the doors locked when the peformance began, to stop people getting in for free.

One or two forthright farang ladies took their complaint on this to several places apart from the owner. I THINK the US Consulate was, at least, informed. There were stories of a boycott. I also heard that the management agreed to stop this potentially fatal practice.

But I don't know if they did. Up to date reports should be made welcome on this thread.

My only other personal 'scare' in CM was my one and only visit to Star 6 near the back of the Imperial Mae Ping, down the side of that awful beer bar centre off Loi Kroh. What appeared to be one very narrow staircase leading up to the 'action' on the top floor. I had visions of a fire and exactly where the pile of bodies would be found.

Last for now, a rumour re all the miles of overhead cable we have, obliterating the sky and ruining views and photography all over Chiang Mai.

A worker for the local authority is reported as saying "we always put up new cables but we never take the old stuff down. Most of what you see is old and disused."

So how much weight are those posts meant to take?????????????

Can someone try to find out?

[elektrified]

A TV member in another thread reported that the fire escape stairwell in one building at Huay Kaew Residence was blocked with storage items.

[adjan jb]

A TV member in another thread reported that the fire escape stairwell in one building at Huay Kaew Residence was blocked with storage items.

The fire escape stairwell at Rajabhat University is blocked with empty boxes on the 4th floor. Anyway, for some reason (TIT, probably) this fire escape stairwell doesn't reach the ground floor. In case of an emergency, people will have to jump from the 2nd floor.

[cmsally]

For the condo dwellers - It would be interesting to know what the capabilities of the fire service are here, in terms of the numbers of storeys they can reach with their eqipment, ie how high can their hydraulic ladders go, etc.

Another thing to remember is that if you live down a narrow soi, it might just be too narrow for the fire truck to reach, in which case make sure you have your own fire extinguishing plan.

If you have fire extinguishers get them serviced regularly (any recommendations would be good as mine seems to have disappeared and some of them need to be refilled soon). So please post if you know of any reliable companies.

If you turn your extinguisher upside down the chemical inside should slide down to the bottom a bit like sludge. After a couple of years it will begin to solidify and then should be changed. Hoses need to be looked at too as its a hot climate and can perish easily.

When you have your extinguishers refilled, make sure to check the seal at the top (where the valve goes in). It should be new as its replaced when they refill. If still old they are trying to pull one over you, just taking it away and bringing it back without doing anything.

[SamSipEt]

For the condo dwellers - It would be interesting to know what the capabilities of the fire service are here, in terms of the numbers of storeys they can reach with their eqipment, ie how high can their hydraulic ladders go, etc.

Another thing to remember is that if you live down a narrow soi, it might just be too narrow for the fire truck to reach, in which case make sure you have your own fire extinguishing plan.

If you have fire extinguishers get them serviced regularly (any recommendations would be good as mine seems to have disappeared and some of them need to be refilled soon). So please post if you know of any reliable companies.

If you turn your extinguisher upside down the chemical inside should slide down to the bottom a bit like sludge. After a couple of years it will begin to solidify and then should be changed. Hoses need to be looked at too as its a hot climate and can perish easily.

When you have your extinguishers refilled, make sure to check the seal at the top (where the valve goes in). It should be new as its replaced when they refill. If still old they are trying to pull one over you, just taking it away and bringing it back without doing anything.

Just a thought why not pop in and visit the big fire station behind the municipal buildings on the river near the us consulate. I suspect that they would be more than happy to advise you on any aspect of fire safety and possible even visit a condo or other building to give it an inspection.

[kartman]

A TV member in another thread reported that the fire escape stairwell in one building at Huay Kaew Residence was blocked with storage items.

The fire escape stairwell at Rajabhat University is blocked with empty boxes on the 4th floor. Anyway, for some reason (TIT, probably) this fire escape stairwell doesn't reach the ground floor. In case of an emergency, people will have to jump from the 2nd floor.

Probably a Hospital regulation people will survive with injuries that will require prolonged medical attention and cost. Above 2nd floor "dead" = no income, same as escape ladder to ground = no income .

[malcy]

i remember the duang tawan hotel down loi kroh road before it was refurbished , they had the fire escape that ran down the side of the building and it had no hand rails at all . i realise that not all the floors were used back then , but a good many of them were. ( the MBK in bangkok is a death trap waiting to kill hundreds ).

[photojourn]

If anyone would like to add information on CNX nightspots that are either safe or unsafe then this is the place to do it. Start a wall post under Chiang Mai and then the name of the club or venue.

DJs & clubbers for safer clubbing venues

Note that this is for reports/rating on establishments only and off-post rants, a diatribes will be removed.

Edited January 2, 2009 by photojourn

[H2oDunc]

Since losing a good friend on the piper Alpha rig fire I have since made being aware of escape routes and life boat positions etc. Whenever I used to go onto a new oil / gas rig I would spend an hour or so finding the nearest escape routes and lifeboat positions. When I go on a ferry I check out life vests and boats. A new hotel the I can find my way to the stairs in the dark. Some call it sad I call it preparation. You never know when you are going to need it. I love life and want it to last as long as I can drag it out !!!!!!!!

[realthaideal]

Given the tragedy in BKK I too was thinking of where I've been in a crush of ppl in a club. I don't get out often and am proud to say I haven't been in Spicy for 4 yrs now, but ti comes to mind first off. How many exits and where ? Illuminated signs and emergency lights in case of power failure ? And are the doors locked or open to clear true exit paths ? Next up would be Mandalay. That place gets packed with people. it has poor lighting, everything painted black. Any exits there ? I dunno. Then there are the 5-6 surrounding sub-clubs of the entire complex which would cause a flood of foot traffic if lights cut in.the case of fire n everyone tried to flee. Same emergency lights n exit questions go for there too.

Flat Out's got a point about Starr 6. That place would be dangerous. Easy to get burned there, more ways than one.

Like BB said (this is like twice recently I quote or agree with!) you have to be situationally aware and always ready to say no to a venue or crowd that looks unsafe.