Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Dec 9: Even as firefighters continue risking their lives—entering smoke-filled rooms, climbing burning stairwells and navigating collapsing structures—the Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services (DFES) in Goa remains without the legal authority to seal unsafe establishments or penalise those openly violating fire safety norms. The issue has resurfaced sharply after the horrific fire at Birch by Romeo Lane that claimed 25 lives, followed by another blaze at Kala Academy the very next day.

The fire at Kala Academy occurred on Monday while preparations were underway for the upcoming Serendipity Arts Festival. Fire extinguishers were available, but officials said the responsibility for safety lay with the organiser’s fire safety officer. DFES will once again issue recommendations to the festival organisers.

Official documents show that Birch nightclub did not possess a valid No Objection Certificate (NOC), highlighting blatant non-compliance with mandatory fire safety rules. “As per departmental records, the establishment had not obtained a valid NOC from the Fire Department, indicating non-compliance with mandatory fire safety regulations,” an official said.

However, despite being the primary agency tasked with fire prevention and emergency response, DFES lacks statutory powers to penalise or seal non-compliant premises. Senior officials, speaking anonymously, admitted that while notices are routinely served, the process often becomes a mere formality. “We do not have the powers to take action over negligence in following fire safety guidelines. We issue notices and declare structures unsafe if norms are not implemented, but compliance is partial at best,” a senior officer said.

Sources revealed a long-standing loophole: structure owners comply with fire norms only during the construction phase to secure a temporary fire NOC—required for an occupancy certificate. Once the occupancy certificate is obtained, enforcement collapses. Annual renewal of fire safety clearances, mandated by law, rarely happens in practice.

This has resulted in a growing number of commercial buildings operating with expired or non-existent clearances, even as fire loads increase through altered interiors, decorative materials and unsafe electrical modifications.

Preliminary findings in the Birch incident pointed to multiple risk factors. Prima facie observations suggested a probable short circuit in electrical systems above the main stage, amplified by combustible interior furnishings. Officials highlighted recurring hazards such as overloaded circuits, non-fire-rated cable insulation, ageing wiring, and the absence of RCDs and modern circuit breakers.

DFES also flagged a second alarming trigger: fireworks activity at the building’s frontage at the time of the incident. Burning particles and sparks may have entered the premises, igniting decorative materials and dramatically increasing the fire’s intensity.

The twin incidents have once again exposed significant regulatory gaps—leaving firefighters to respond heroically, but without the legal backing to prevent such tragedies in the first place.