According to fire brigade statistics, there have been 276 fires in high-rise buildings in the city and 55 in the suburbs in the last five years. The last major incident was the Express Towers fire on January 29, 1997. However, the fire brigade warned that the potential of fire-threats will be on the rise due increasing number of multi-storeyed structures coming up.

There are nearly 1400 tall structures with a height of 24 metres and above used for residential and commercial purposes. For instance, the brigade pointed out, the Slum Redevelopment Scheme and the Re-development programme in areas such as Kalbadevi, Girgaum and Bhuleshwar would only promote more vertical development.

The fire-brigade complained that very oftenoccupiers of tall-buildings and sky-scrapers give scant or no regard to maintaining the fire protection equipment. While Mayor Nandu Satam will inaugurate the meet, chairman and managing editor of the Express Group of Newspapers Vivek Goenka will deliver the address.