THE Bureau of Fire Protection on Friday said the 168 Mall and Divisoria Mall in Divisoria have been found guilty of various fire code violations during an inspection last Thursday in preparation for the expected influx of shoppers for the Christmas season.

In his report to Interior Undersecretary for Public Safety Marius Corpus, the BFP led by Director Enrique Linsangan said the violations make the two malls a dangerous place for shoppers if fire breaks out.

Linsangan said the violations include narrow pathways and crowded stalls, goods and other merchandise on the aisles, obstruction in exits, sprinkler heads that are covered with stocks and supplies, and the use of some vendors of the fire sprinklers as their display areas.

The BFP said the malls also did not have enough fire exit signs while other signages were not luminous and do not conform with the standard size which should be about a foot long. Fire inspectors also noted that the two malls had no first aid fire protection, and the stall owners use the ceilings to house their stocks.

The BFP gave the two malls 24 hours to comply with the fire safety standards or face closure.

Linsangan also reminded the public that they should take themselves out of a building within three to four minutes after fire breaks out. He said stall owners and vendors should not stack their goods in the streets to keep the way clear for firefighters.