Fire risk management in Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: 2009-2019 experiences

Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex (THBC) is one of the historical monuments of Iran. It has been registered in the list of The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites. However, the destructive power and frequency of fires are the main threat to this bazaar. This research examined the factors affecting the fire in THBC and the key components affecting the fire risk management based on the 2009-2019 experiences. The obtained findings showed that 25 components in economic, physical, socio-cultural, technical, and managerial dimensions were effective in the occurrence of fire in this bazaar. There were many fires during national-religious ceremonies. The highest rate of fire in leather shops was during carpet sales. Also, the highest rate of fire was from 22 to 3 at midnight, especially in winter. The results also showed that out of 26 components affecting fire risk management, 10 components were vital factors, the most important of which were modern equipment, control of electrical equipment, and night guards and activity monitoring. Finally, according to the obtained results, practical suggestions were offered to focus on modern equipment and the use of patrol forces.