Being caught in a fire is not something that happens even once in a lifetime to most people. But the relative rarity of the event is no excuse for violation of safety standards or failure to maintain fire escape routes. If there ever is a fire, such seldom-considered issues can suddenly become a matter of life or death.
This was never more clearly demonstrated than in the tragic blaze this week at a North Carolina chicken processing plant where 25 of the 100 workers in the building died as flames swept through the structure. Another 55 were injured. Most of the deaths and injuries were due to smoke inhalation. According to some reports, several of the building's nine exits were locked or blocked.Outraged employees said the fire exits had been locked to prevent theft. But what use is a fire exit if it is no exit? In fact, a locked door can be worse than no door at all because it can trap people who gather there in the expectation of escaping the flames.
The North Carolina tragedy apparently started with a ruptured line carrying hydraulic fluid to conveyor belts. When the line broke, the fluid fumes were ignited by a nearby deep fat dryer used to cook chickens. The resulting explosion sent fire roaring through the brick building.
In addition to the locked doors, the 11-year-old chicken plant had no fire sprinkler system and had never been inspected by state safety officials.
Detailed fire safety rules and inspections can seem like an inconvenience and excessive nitpicking to people who have never been in a fire. But they serve a vital purpose.
In the calm of ordinary life, people may think escaping a blaze would be no big problem. But when flames roar and the lights go out, one of the first casualties is calmness.
The tragedy in North Carolina ought to prompt employers and employees alike around the country to review their fire safety procedures. Know the simple things like fire safety rules, where fire extinguishers are placed, where emergency exits are located and how to reach them in the dark, if necessary. And building managers should make sure the sprinkler systems work and that emergency exits really live up to their name.