Palmy home show fire hazard - how would you get out of the maze?

Bruce from Takaro

- Auckland's sports arena is in the news because of an appalling fire alarm shambles. Some of the audience faced locked-door fire escapes and felt trapped and terrified. The staff failed to communicate with the 43,000 people at the event. See bit.ly...
- Last week at the Home Show at our arena, I was similarly concerned about fire safety.
- The trouble is that you are channeled along this huge, long unbroken walkway between endless display booths. After seeing most of it (it gets junky towards the end), I wanted to just go back and go home, but found myself endlessly walking, walking, walled-in without access to a door out.
- I became 'warmly' irritated, and realized the fire hazard. No easy out. And surrounded by ultra-flammables like sofas, beds, paper, rubber, plastic, etc. that would produce choking smoke. Not in an open sports arena, but enclosed in the huge roofed building.
- Eventually I arrived back near the entrance. Before leaving, I spoke to a young guy at a kiosk about it. I encouraging him to talk to the management. He saw the point and agreed enthusiastically, but I don't know if he reported it.
- The arena should have suitcase-sixed, bright-LED-light, battery-lit, 'Fire Exit' lamps visible at all times, visibly able to compete with all the visually loud advertising displays. AND a clear, easy pathway to escape, not blocked by walls of kiosks and all their tables loaded with equipment adding obstacles.
- What do our local firefighters and police think of the risk? Perhaps none of them go to the Arena expos, or while relaxing there, naturally feel 'off duty'.
- What do you think?