The Fire Protection Inspectorate of the Ministry of the Internal Affairs of Canton Sarajevo (CS) carried out 628 inspection visits last year, of which 120 were regular, 184 follow-up, and 324 extraordinary inspections. Based on the inspections conducted, inspectors issued 168 decisions ordering corrective measures.
It is important to note that last year, fire protection inspectors carried out targeted extraordinary inspection controls in buildings intended for public use, with the aim of prevention and the timely elimination of any irregularities that could result in undesirable events.
Thus, during the past year, 25 hospitality facilities were inspected (nightclubs, discotheques, bars, and others); 8 cultural facilities (theatres, culture and youth centers); and 10 sports facilities (sports halls, concert halls, swimming pools).
In most of the facilities, deficiencies were identified, and measures were ordered with the aim of eliminating them.
The deficiencies identified include: the absence of additional exits from premises, fire compartmentation of spaces, lack of active fire protection systems, testing of installations and equipment in accordance with technical regulations and standards, absence of emergency lighting, fire risk assessments, evacuation plans, etc.
Inspectors issued 47 decisions ordering corrective measures, and through follow-up inspection visits, they established that 31 supervised entities had remedied the identified deficiencies. The remaining entities are in the supervision and control phase, and inspectors are monitoring the pace of remedying the identified deficiencies and acting accordingly.
“The Fire Protection Inspectorate regularly carries out inspections in accordance with work plans. However, following incidents from the previous year, such as the tragedy in a discotheque in North Macedonia and the fire at the Home for Pensioners in Tuzla, additional extraordinary control inspections were also carried out in hospitality facilities, discotheques, sports halls, theatres, homes for the elderly and infirm, and similar facilities. Deficiencies were identified in a certain number of cases, but what is good is that work is being done to eliminate these deficiencies, and that the inspection regularly conducts follow-up inspections, and they are on the ground every day. I would like to emphasize that our inspectors have done an excellent job, and by their timely action, greater consequences were prevented,” said Minister Katica.
The Chief Cantonal Inspector, Sabina Bukva, explained the most common irregularities identified in homes for the elderly and infirm.
“During inspection visits, it was established that inspections had not been carried out or that periodic tests had not been conducted, such as: inspection and cleaning of flue systems, lightning protection installations, electrical installations, establishment of a hydrant network in accordance with technical regulations, insufficient numbers of fire extinguishers, and the absence of training and testing of home staff in the field of fire protection,” said Chief Inspector Bukva. She added that all supervised entities were ordered to take measures and given deadlines for remedying them, and that inspectors are currently conducting follow-up inspections to determine whether the measures have been implemented.
Fire protection inspectors carried out inspections in ten homes for the elderly and infirm in the area of CS, that is, in all homes listed in the register of private social welfare institutions of the Ministry of Labour, Social Policy, Displaced Persons and Refugees of CS.
