The devastating fire that destroyed part of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris provides lessons for other ancient architectural structures with out-dated fire alarm systems, The Beijing News said in an editorial.
In reality, due to the needs of commercial development, many ancient buildings have been electrified, and some have also installed high-power lighting equipment, which may bury hidden dangers.
In addition to the prevention of electrical fires, it is necessary to make detailed fire prevention plans, install fire prevention facilities and management systems, and renovate ancient buildings, to create a comprehensive system for fire safety.
In terms of maintenance and construction, responsible departments and officials should strictly examine the qualifications of builders and fully consider whether they have the right experience to deal with ancient buildings. There must be strict supervision of the construction process to ensure overall safety. Ancient buildings that are over-developed and have potential fire hazards should be recorded, and they should be subject to thorough inspections stated intervals.
Apart from risks from maintenance and construction, in China, many ancient buildings are made of wood, which is often painted with flammable paint during renovations. Many do not have modern fire detection systems installed. In addition, many ancient monuments are in remote areas or in villages with small roads; this means that if a fire breaks out, rescue operations are more difficult.
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