The devastating fire that gutted large portions of Koder House, an 1808 building in Fort Kochi, has raised safety concerns for the numerous heritage buildings in the coastal town.
The incident has exposed the alleged lapses in the firefighting mechanism in the busy tourist hub, prompting the Fire and Rescue Services department to initiate measures for strengthening safety infrastructure in the area.
A view of Koder House, a prominent heritage landmark in Fort Kochi, after it was gutted in a fire on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) night. Built as a Portuguese mansion, the building was bought and renovated by Samuel S. Koder, a member of Kochi’s prominent Jewish community and Honorary Consul of the Netherlands, in 1905.
| Photo Credit:
THULASI KAKKAT
Though the three-storey building was equipped with fire extinguishers, they were inadequate to stop the spread of the flames, which were fuelled by strong coastal winds, according to fire and rescue services officials. “The building does not require a no-objection certificate from the Fire department as it spans an area of less than 1,000 square metres. However, the incident has highlighted the need for installing early warning systems like smoke detection alarms and first-aid firefighting equipment including hose reel drums even in small properties,” a fire officer involved in the investigation said.
The Koder House, a prominent heritage landmark in Fort Kochi, after it was gutted in a fire on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) night. Built as a Portuguese mansion, the building was bought and renovated by Samuel S. Koder, a member of Kochi’s prominent Jewish community and Honorary Consul of the Netherlands, in 1905.
| Photo Credit:
THULASI KAKKAT
Ernakulam District Fire Officer Joji A.S., meanwhile, said that the department would submit a proposal to the District Collector highlighting the need for installing dedicated firefighting equipment, including water hydrants at strategic locations, to prevent such incidents in the future. “The heritage value of the properties and the possible impact of such safety issues on tourism will be highlighted in the proposal,” he said.
A view of Koder House, a prominent heritage landmark in Fort Kochi, after it was gutted in a fire on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) night. Built as a Portuguese mansion, the building was bought and renovated by Samuel S. Koder, a member of Kochi’s prominent Jewish community and Honorary Consul of the Netherlands, in 1905.
| Photo Credit:
THULASI KAKKAT
Firefighters who took part in the rescue operation on Tuesday flagged traffic congestion and narrow roads, which made accessing the location difficult for firetenders from other parts of the district. “The situation is same across Fort Kochi and Mattancherry regions. It highlights the need for strengthening in-house firefighting and early response systems, especially in heritage properties,” an official said.
Operators of similar properties in the area said the fire had prodded them to relook at the safety aspects in their properties. “Extinguishers from hotels and shops nearby were used to douse the flames at Koder House, and we have refilled all of them without fail. Our architect also visited our property and checked if the fire had posed any threat to it. We have been advised to stay closed until the fire situation in Koder House is fully under control,” the manager of a nearby hotel said.
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Firefighters have been deployed on Koder House premises considering the possibility of the heavy wooden materials that caught fire getting ignited again.
The Koder House, a prominent heritage landmark in Fort Kochi, after it was gutted in a fire on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) night. Built as a Portuguese mansion, the building was bought and renovated by Samuel S. Koder, a member of Kochi’s prominent Jewish community and Honorary Consul of the Netherlands, in 1905.
| Photo Credit:
THULASI KAKKAT
K.J. Sohan, former Kochi Mayor and a prominent heritage conservationist, said that the Kodor House fire should come as a wake-up call for the region, and the authorities should address gaps in safety measures. “We were lucky because firetenders could access the building by road both from the front and back. The situation could be worse if something happens in congested and busy places like Jew Town,” he said.
He added that though there was no dearth of water in the vicinity, firefighters faced difficulty accessing it on Tuesday. “The Mayor should convene a meeting of all stakeholders and discuss a strategy to ensure fire safety infrastructure around Fort Kochi’s heritage sites,” he said.
Fort Kochi division councillor Shiny Mathew said steps have to be taken to ensure availability of water for firefighting on the premises of heritage properties. She also demanded that a vehicle be made available at the fire and rescue training facility at Fort Kochi. She said that the Mayor has promised to convene a meeting of stakeholders to discuss the matter immediately.
Former MLA Dominic Presentation, who visited Koder House on Tuesday, called for a coordinated intervention by the Centre and the State to protect Fort Kochi’s heritage buildings, including those under private ownership.
Published – October 01, 2026 06:30 am IST
