Three scrapyard fires in six months have prompted engineers to urge the introduction of mandatory inspections across all such facilities, citing growing concerns over safety standards and fire prevention. The repeated incidents have highlighted risks linked to the storage of flammable materials, poor site management, and inadequate fire suppression systems, with each blaze requiring significant emergency response and causing environmental and health impacts for surrounding communities. Engineers argue that without a structured inspection regime, similar events will continue to occur and place both workers and residents at risk.
The call for mandatory inspections centers on enforcing compliance with clear guidelines on material separation, hazardous waste handling, electrical safety, and on-site firefighting equipment. At present, oversight varies between sites and enforcement is often reactive rather than preventive, leaving gaps that allow dangerous conditions to develop unchecked. Professional bodies say that regular, independent checks would ensure operators maintain safe storage practices, keep proper documentation, and address faults before they lead to ignition.
Beyond the immediate fire hazard, engineers also point to the environmental consequences of scrapyard fires, including toxic smoke, groundwater contamination from runoff, and long-term soil damage. Mandatory inspections would create accountability and give authorities a consistent framework to monitor compliance, issue corrective orders, and close sites that fail to meet basic safety thresholds. The three fires within half a year have made the issue urgent, and engineers warn that waiting for another incident before acting would be a failure to protect public safety and national infrastructure.
