Fire Service: Short circuit ignited Bailey Rd blaze, gas leak fuelled spread

The fire service’s investigation has found that a short circuit in an electric kettle at a tea and coffee shop situated on the ground floor of Green Cozy Cottage on Bailey Road ignited the inferno that tragically resulted in the loss of 46 lives in February. 

Additionally, the probe had uncovered a gas leak within the building, accelerating the spread of the blaze, Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director of operations at the fire service and head of its Bailey Road fire investigation committee, said on Sunday.

Stairways blocked by gas cylinders had obstructed escape routes, exacerbating the situation, he added, highlighting the absence of an exit stairway as a critical factor contributing to the high casualty count.

The fire, which ignited on February 29 in the seven-storey Dhaka building, primarily occupied by restaurants and coffee shops, occurred during a busy dinner time before a holiday, trapping numerous individuals inside. 

After the disaster, allegations of negligence were directed at the regulatory agencies responsible for approving the building's design and safety protocols, notably Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk). Both the Fire Service and Rajuk initiated separate investigations into the incident.

Furthermore, the High Court appointed a committee comprising representatives from various entities, including the fire service, Dhaka North and South city corporations, Rajuk and Buet, with oversight by a Ministry of Home Affairs secretary. Their tasks involved examining fire safety measures in residential and commercial structures across Dhaka, with a deadline of four months for submitting their findings.

The fire service committee finished its probe within the stipulated time and submitted it last week.

Lt Col Tajul said the fire, originating from an electrical malfunction in the Cha Chumuk coffee shop, had swiftly escalated due to the presence of leaked gas, fully engulfing the ground floor within minutes. 

Had the fire been simply due to a short circuit or electrical glitch, it would not have spread so fast or been so large, he added.

The official said the fire service had collected video footage of the early stages of the fire, finding that within the first four to five minutes, it had reached the “fully developed stage.”

Notably, by most standards including the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), there are four stages of a fire: incipient, growth, fully developed and decay.

"In this instance, the fire originated from an electrical fault and was exacerbated by gas. Initially, several people attempted to douse the flames with fire extinguishers. A police officer was there as well. But their efforts proved futile due to the presence of gas. By the time the initial fire engine arrived six minutes later, the entire ground floor was ablaze,” the Lt Col Tajul said.

The official lamented the absence of an unobstructed staircase, emphasizing that it would have saved numerous lives. 

Highlighting critical structural deficiencies, particularly the lone staircase blocked by gas cylinders, he underscored the numerous issues identified during the investigation, with the staircase being a prominent concern.