Unscientific use of commercial space triggers fire safety concerns on S.M. Street in Kerala’s Kozhikode

Conversion of commercial spaces into storage areas and illegal extensions rampant in the busy shopping centre

Illegal extensions and conversion of existing commercial spaces into storage areas are the major reasons for the recurring fire outbreaks in shopping complexes and godowns near S.M. Street in Kozhikode, according to a recent fire audit by the Fire and Rescue Services Department.

Wholesalers of plastic and rubber products and cloths are the major violators of fire safety norms, and most alterations are made without the knowledge of building owners or without securing permission from the corporation authorities.

In some commercial buildings, fire exits and parking slots were found converted into additional storage spaces. A few local traders use such spaces to dump waste too.