Bhubaneswar: The fire services directorate on Monday asked shopping malls, clinical establishments and multiplexes in the city to install adequate fire-fighting measures to avoid getting their establishments sealed.

A one-day conference of senior fire officials was held at the Odisha Fire and Disaster Response Academy at Baramunda on Monday to sensitise the fire officers about the various provisions of the Odisha Fire Safety and Fire Prevention Rules, which came into force on October 4.

Director-general of police (fire service and home guards) Bijay Kumar Sharma said the fire safety measures were a must for establishments, such as hospital, shopping mall, cinemas and apartments. "Odisha is one of the few states in the country to have a specific legislation to deal with fire safety. The rules specify various classes of premises or buildings. The rules make it mandatory for obtaining fire safety certificates for permanent buildings and temporary structures," said Sharma.

The issue of fire safety hogged limelight in the wake of fire tragedy at the Sum hospital in October last year. More than 25 people had died in the fire that broke out in its intensive care unit and dialysis ward.

Sharma also said a drive would identify buildings flouting the norms. "The owners of such buildings will be asked to strictly implement the safety norms," said Sharma.