Fire safety checks target apartment buildings in Ida-Viru County
This week, Ida-Viru Rescue Centre inspectors are checking fire safety compliance in apartment buildings across four towns. The county has recorded dozens of fire risks and fatalities in recent years.
From September 15 to 17, inspectors from the Ida-Viru Rescue Centre are visiting apartment buildings in Kohtla-Järve, Sillamäe, Narva and Jõhvi to check whether apartment associations are meeting fire safety requirements both inside buildings and on surrounding grounds. The checks will take place daily between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Gerli Paiula, head of the Ida-Viru rescue district, said the county has about 2,300 apartment buildings. Over the past three years, fire risks arose 121 times in these buildings, with 105 actual fires. This year, rescuers have already held 104 consultations for apartment associations in Ida-Viru County. Last year, 32 people died in fires across Estonia, 10 of them in Ida-Viru County.
According to Paiula, information days were organized this year for apartment association representatives to draw more attention both to overall building fire safety and to safe behavior by residents themselves. In the rescuers' assessment, much work remains to be done in this area in the county.
Paiula said the greatest concern for rescuers and inspectors is combustible materials and items stored on stairwells and in shared basement areas — such as bicycles, strollers and sleds. These are the violations that generate the most complaints to the Rescue Board. This year, apartment associations across Estonia were issued 43 orders to remove combustible materials from stairwells, while 16 simplified proceedings were carried out against private individuals.
Key requirements
Escape routes must remain clear, with no combustible materials stored in stairwells or corridors. The outer door, basement door and doors to common areas must open from the inside without a key. The basement must be a separate fire compartment, and fire-resistant doors must be installed when apartment doors are replaced. Heating systems must be cleaned by a professional chimney sweep at least once a year, and electrical installations in common areas must undergo technical audits. Combustible materials must be kept a safe distance from buildings, generally 4 meters, and waste containers at least 2 meters away. Parking must be arranged so rescue vehicles can quickly reach anyone needing help, with a clear passage at least 3.5 meters wide and 4.5 meters high.
