Bengaluru: Many automobile garages across Bengaluru continue to operate without mandatory fire safety approvals, raising serious concerns following the massive fire that destroyed multiple garages in Thanisandra earlier this week, Fire and Emergency Services Department officials have said.
The recent blaze, which gutted 25 cars across four garages in Thanisandra, has once again highlighted widespread violations of fire safety norms in vehicle repair workshops across the city.
Many garages lack mandatory approvals
According to Fire Department officials, automobile garages and workshops are classified as high-risk establishments as they store highly combustible materials such as fuel, engine oil, paints and thinners. They are required to obtain approval from the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and install basic firefighting equipment.
However, officials said many garages operating from open plots and temporary tin sheds neither possess the required permissions nor maintain essential fire safety measures. Several also reportedly operate without insurance coverage.
Basic fire safety measures ignored
Officials noted that numerous workshops fail to install even basic firefighting equipment, including fire extinguishers, sand buckets and emergency response systems. The absence of these measures often allows minor fires to spread rapidly, resulting in extensive property damage.
They also identified poor housekeeping, faulty electrical wiring, improper storage of flammable materials, and unauthorised welding or cutting work as some of the common causes of garage fires.
Illegal operators hamper investigations
An officer from the Fire and Emergency Services Department said owners of illegally operating garages often fail to cooperate with police after fire incidents, making it difficult to determine the exact cause of the blaze and investigate possible violations.
Another senior official warned that the widespread non-compliance poses a serious threat not only to garage workers but also to nearby residents and adjoining commercial establishments.
The department has stressed the need for stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations and greater compliance by garage owners to prevent similar incidents in the future.