IntroductionThe provision of adequate fire safety measures in a shopping mall is essential because they are accessible to individuals from all walks of life. Research indicates that security measures during mass purchases are not sufficiently implemented; therefore, serious damage is likely to occur in the event of a fire. According to Kachenje et al (2010, p.6), most large shopping centers do not have sufficient fire fighting facilities and measures. Additionally, some facilities are not easily accessible or do not work at all. There are specific attributes that contribute to fire safety in shopping centers, such as their design with wide exit points, large access routes and alert and mobile occupants. Shopping complexes pose great risks of fire accidents due to the roaming population (Kachenje et al (2010, p. 6). Every year, fire accidents are reported in various shopping malls across the world. Below are three case studies of fire accidents that resulted in fire deaths and loss of property.Say No to Plagiarism.Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned.” ?Get the original essay One of the critical fire accidents occurred in the Aksaray underground shopping mall in Turkey in 1975. Reports indicate that the fire was due to an electrical short circuit in one of the stores in the shopping center. Firefighters responded quickly, but the nature of the fire made it difficult to control the fire (Arioglu, Anadol and Candogan, p.2). Firefighters tried to use fans to suck out the smoke, but it was too dense. Additionally, the high elevation made it difficult for crews to reach an ideal location to fight the fire. After a few hours, firefighters gave up and closed the entrances using wood, canvas and sand to block the oxygen and let the fire self-extinguish. Firefighters dug holes in the ceiling to spray water inside the building, but the technique did not work. The fire continued for approximately 63 hours (Arioglu, Anadol and Candogan nd, p.2). The villagio fire started following a short circuit in a fluorescent tube. The blister burst after the plastic components of the tube overheated (Khatri, Chatriwala and Mills 2013, p.10). The Villaggio shopping center fire was one of Qatar's worst tragedies: 19 people died, most of them children at a daycare. Firefighters attempted to access the daycare through the roof of the shopping center to rescue people. However, delays led to the children's deaths from smoke inhalation. Others died when the mall's staircase collapsed. People could observe smoke billowing from the mall (Khatri, Chatriwala, and Mills 2013, p.8). There was no way to escape as both exit points were blocked by smoke. The alarm and sprinkler systems were not working properly. Thick smoke and heat hampered the rescue mission, along with a lack of proper floor plans and faulty sprinkler systems. Smoke spread throughout the mall through mall vents and along the ceiling. The smoke becomes thicker and more toxic after being mixed with flammable paint used to decorate the mall. At first, shoppers didn't seem bothered by the fire, but they didn't know the fire was spreading out of control. The smokespread onto attics and air vents. It is common for smoke to be generated during large fires. Hot, toxic gases tend to be harmful to mall occupants and block firefighter responses (Khatri, Chatriwala, and Mills 2013, p.8). The Myer Shopping Center fire resulted in the total destruction of the Myer store and over 40 million people. dollar losses (Cordingley and Tullberg 2007, para.1). Reports indicate that the fire was caused by an electrical fault inside the store. The structure of the store contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Half of the store was severely affected by smoke, but its structure remained solid. The heat released by the fire was too great and the firefighters had to retreat briefly. Smoke from the building rose in a plume to the ceiling. When the smoke reaches the ceiling, a layer of smoke forms. As shown in the image below, the volume of smoke increases when it comes into contact with air. Smoke billowing from the building hampered firefighters' efforts to save property inside the building. Smoke could be seen spreading through the roof of the building. Smoke controls are engineered systems that use fans to produce pressure differences to impede the movement of smoke. A smoke control system prevents smoke from spreading to stairwells, elevators and means of egress or similar areas (Ball 1999, p.134-135). The system maintains a friendly environment before the firefighter evacuation process. Additionally, the control system prevents smoke migration from the initial point. Smoke control creates a tenable environment for the emergency response team to conduct search and rescue missions as well as locate and fight the fire. Research indicates that installing a smoke control system can protect human lives and reduce property loss (Ball 1999, p. 134-135). According to Ball (1999, p. 136), “smoke control systems include automatic smoke release or extraction and necessary screens”. The smoke control system cools the temperature, allowing occupants to breathe easily and preventing structural damage by keeping building materials and contents below their flash point. Smoke is one of the critical problems generated by fire. Smoke causes loss of life and property as well as damage around the fire site. Smoke contains airborne solids and liquids as well as gases generated during combustion. It takes a few minutes for smoke to fill a room. Heavy smoke tends to obscure exit signs and doors, complicating the evacuation process. From the three case studies in particular, the village shopping center fire, it is evident that smoke is the leading cause of death in building fires. The incident at the Villagio shopping center led to the death of 13 children in a daycare that the fire did not reach. However, the children suffocated from too much smoke inside the building. A fire at a shopping center leaves many dead due to panic among the building's occupants as they attempt to leave the scene of the fire. Determining smoke movement in a shopping center can be complex due to its size and complicated design. Rescue procedures therefore tend to be difficult. Currently, researchers are examining movements based on fire outbreaks located in different locations within a large center..