Osaka arson suspect identified; all similar buildings to be inspected

I wonder why his brother did not keep him on at their sheet metal factory?

There are multiple facets to this problem. One of them being mental health, another one being terrible building codes that don't allow for more safety, but also the government not thinking ahead and only reacting once something bad happens.

Last but not least, this entire fire seems to have been started by those damn kerosene heaters. One kick to these machines is really all it takes? I don't get why Japan can't get with central heating...

On Sunday, Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yasushi Kaneko, who is also in charge of fire and disaster management, said he had instructed a nationwide inspection of about 30,000 commercial buildings with three or more floors but only one stairway.

I hope they do, and I hope they do something about this habit of obstructing fire escapes by using them as storage space.

No fire escape. How is that allowed?

this entire fire seems to have been started by those damn kerosene heaters.

You have completely missed or did not comprehend this part:

Police quoted witnesses who saw a man walking into the clinic with a paper bag, which he put on the floor, right next to a heater by the reception desk, and kicked it.

He kicked the bag not the heater!

this entire fire seems to have been started by those damn kerosene heaters

While that's possible, it could just as easily have been an electric heater of some kind.

As far as I know, all those middle sized buildings here have an external stair for emergencies. How was this building ? And was the emergency exit closed or could not be opened due to the heavy smoke and lack of visibility ?

Investigators will do their job.

I suspect we might later learn the culprit was a patient and for some reasons had issues with the clinic chief

According to the Japanese news the emergency staircase was located right next to the elevator, and that is where he started the fire, so there was literally no way out. I find it strange that the police are not able to contact the doctor. Was he not at the clinic the day of the arson? Why would he be hiding, if he didn’t do anything wrong? That part is a little puzzling.

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suspect had visited the clinic in the past for help with alcohol abuse, had caused trouble at drinking establishments in his neighborhood, and is believed to have started a fire at his residence earlier on the 17th

The doctor must be one of the victims, sadly. Sounds like a very good person, trying to help people get back to work.

The doctor is a victim, Eight people were reported dead on NHK.

Very few made it out alive,

No fire escape. Such lax standards.

No sprinklers either.

To murder a doctor and nurse during COVID is so evil.

Ive yet to see a fire extinguisher anywhere in Japan that has an up to code certification tag.

There should have bin a fire extinguisher nearby and ofcourse a sprinkle system.

Contingency planning of fire safety and prevention was not being done effectively.

Mostly extinguished within 30 minutes ? Whats that supposed to mean.

Japan needs to do more in terms of fire and disaster safety standards. Many buildings are not up to basic standards.

As for the alleged perpetrator. If he survives, and the allegations are proven, execute him. No need to pay to keep him alive.

Rest in Peace to the many poor innocent victims.

Good news!

Kishida is fixing Japan!

"The government also announced plans to inspect tens of thousands of similar buildings nationwide. Authorities believe the massive death toll at the downtown Osaka building on Friday was largely because the fire made its only emergency stairway unusable."

The building is not new, and certainly no newer than the last time this happened, and yet once again building code and health and safety inspections were never carried it out. You think that's going to change? They going to demand building owners vacate the buildings so they can build new exits? Nope. Nothing will happen at all besides making a show of it and lip service vows. Then we'll read about another fire killing dozens because the place was a death trap.

Glad they identified the arsonist. Now it's time to find him and lock him up forever.

Iron LadToday  10:22 pm JST

Good news!

Kishida is fixing Japan!Fixing'

Same old, same old.

INFORMAL

the illegal or underhand influencing of the outcome of something such as a race, match, or election.

So you are admitting that, with tragic occurrences like this arson, with an inexcusable loss of life and clearly preventable human cost, Japan is seriously broken, right?

“Time to find him” Smith?

Read this: “Osaka police, which are investigating the case as arson and murder, identified the man as Morio Tanimoto. He is being treated in serious condition after he was rescued from the fire, police said. He has not been formally arrested or charged.”

Finding him is not the problem.

RIP

As far as I know, all those middle sized buildings here have an external stair for emergencies.

They don't. Many buildings have only internal fire escape stairs. They may have a "throw-out" ladder system from the windows. (I worked in such a building not so far from this one for about 12 years. Somewhat bigger, but only an internal staircase.)

But even an external fire escape may not be enough when an accelerant is used in setting a fire. You still have to get to the escape. Carbon monoxide poisoning is the usual issue.

My dad worked as a fire insurance inspector for a long time. He would sometimes offload his feelings after inspecting the remains of fires that were probably set intentionally. As kids, we used to laugh at him when we stayed in hotels and he would meticulously show us the escape route for the building. Now I wish I'd listened to him more.

When our children were small we were at some kind of event in a city public gym with a lot of other families. I noticed that the emergency exit doors were locked with chains from the inside. I knew what the reaction would be if "I' asked the chains to be taken out so I got some of our neighbours to come with me to ask that the emergency exits be unchained. The city employee who unchained them made a big production out of it going around to the doors, taking the chains off and slamming the doors open. He was reported to city management and retired. The city took the issue very seriously. If you see something blocking exits, take action.

Kerosene heaters pose danger. They should not be used. It could either have been accidental or are not, kerosene heaters are combustible.

It’s too late to review and change the building lax building codes in the hundreds of thousands of office buildings in Osaka. Go after the developers, designers, etc.

Ive yet to see a fire extinguisher anywhere in Japan that has an up to code certification tag.

My house has an up to date fire extinguisher , inspected regularly and replaced before expiry and maintenance company is extremely efficient.

Just because you cannot see something doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

this really is heart breaking. also how is one fire escape route even legal? I'm unfamiliar with Japanese building codes but there should always be at least two escapes.

nandakandamanda: "He is being treated in serious condition after he was rescued from the fire, police said. He has not been formally arrested or charged.”

My bad, missed that second, single line in the whole story -- the only one indicating he had been caught, and I still saw them going building to building in the area yesterday while I was having coffee at St. Marc and after. Glad they've got him. Sad that probably nothing will be done, and as I said, DEFINITELY nothing will be done to enforce fire codes in the buildings. They'll inspect, say something needs to be done, leave it to the owners, who will agree to do absolutely nothing except maybe clear boxes from additional exits if they already exist. Then we'll read about it again within the year, and a call for inspection, nothing being done, etc.

Maria 'Bing' Velasquez Reid

Kerosene heaters pose danger. They should not be used. It could either have been accidental or are not, kerosene heaters are combustible.

As I understand it, the heater in the clinic was not a kerosine heater. The perp brought the kerosine.