Safety checks by the Fire and Rescue Services on January 4 exposed serious fire safety issues at parking facilities in Ernakulam’s two major railway stations: Ernakulam Junction (South) and Ernakulam Town (North). The inspections flagged shortages in firefighting equipment, poor maintenance, and lack of emergency training. The teams inspected these parking lots soon after a massive fire destroyed around 500 motorcycles at Thrissur railway station on the same day. A key concern was non-functional fire hydrants. At South station’s eastern entrance, the hydrants were present but their knobs didn’t work due to poor upkeep. Fire hydrants help firefighters access water quickly during emergencies. Inspectors also found outdated fire extinguishers that had not been refilled as required. An official said, “Fire extinguishers need to be refilled with the required agent even if they have not been used. It was found that such protocols were not followed in some places. The Fire and Rescue Services department has offered to provide training to parking staff if required.” At the North station, the parking's close location to train platforms raised safety concerns. Teams from Fire and Rescue Services, Railway Protection Force, and Government Railway Police conducted the checks together. Officials will issue safety advisories to authorities based on these findings. On a brighter note, the parking lots had enough staff to handle emergencies. “There are sufficient CCTV cameras installed, and the facilities are located at a safe distance from electric lines,” one official noted. The parking areas at the main entrances of both stations are run by contractors appointed by the Railways, while the eastern entrance parking at South station is on land owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA).