Thursday night, a fire at a local scrap metal facility injured a worker and damaged property. The fire occurred between 10:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. at 9400 Rhonda. According to reports, the fire erupted when fuel tanks were being drained.
Although we live in the most technologically advanced society in history, the age-old risk of fire remains a safety hazard. Since prehistoric times, fire has helped people to cook their food and warm their homes. It also been used for metal working and other industrial applications. Yet, it has posed a threat since time immemorial. The horrific fire that consumed parts of Rome during Nero’s reign caused untold misery and devastation to the capital of the largest western empire at the time. Centuries later, fire destroyed important parts of London.
Despite its well-known properties and dangers, millennia after the infamous Roman conflagration, fire continues to threaten citizens. Fortunately, fire prevention, detection, and suppression techniques have improved (the latter, thanks in part to the vision of Benjamin Franklin). As fire fighters will uniformly attest, the first key is prevention. All of us need to be mindful of fire and respectful of its destructive force. Next, containment is critical. It is in this context that building codes can help. Our fire department employs experts in fire suppression and containment. Their voices need to be heard when building codes are reviewed. Unfortunately, politicians also listen to developers, some of whom who seek to maximize profits as the expense of safety. Accordingly, policymakers must put the protection of current and future citizens ahead of shortcuts and compromises that endanger those who work and reside in structures in our community.
If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in a fire as a result of another’s negligence, it is important to understand your right to recover. Contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or toll free at 713-222-7211 for a confidential consultation.