sprinkler

Officials say the club illegally obtained its licence, that it lacked sprinklers, and that the venue was a converted carpet warehouse, whose single emergency exit was locked at the time of the fire.

The state requires new homes to include solar panels, double-paned windows and fire sprinklers.

"The government says for buildings under 11m, the risk can be mitigated by other means, like using fire alarms and sprinkler systems but in my case, that's not true," explained Tom.

There had been no water for the sprinklers.

The tanks that are lined up between homes and flammable vegetation would be equipped with networks of flexible pipes and sprinklers, which would douse a wide area to prevent flames from advancing.