The old and dilapidated buildings in the city, especially in commercial areas like Kalbadevi, are firetraps and blazes in such buildings make rescue operations more challenging, said Chief Fire Officer P D Karguppikar.

His comments came in the wake of the fire that broke out on the third floor of the 100-year-old Shroff Mansion, a commercial-cum-residential building in Zaveri Bazaar on Wednesday, killing two persons.