Ras Al Khaimah, February 09: The Civil Defence Department in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) has conducted inspection visits to nearly 5,795 households in different areas of the emirate since the month of December.
Col. Mohammed Abdullah Al Zaabi, Chief of the RAK Civil Defence Department, said that the scheme has been part of the six-month nationwide campaign launched by the Ministry of Interior during the month of December to improve domestic fire safety across the country and reduce casualties and loss in property.
He noted that since the launch of the campaign, teams from the civil defence department have been moving door to door distributing safety guidelines brochures and checklists to educate them on fire prevention and safety.
“We partitioned the emirate into five areas to enable our officers reach every household in order to spread preventive awareness among families and to educate them on the fire safety,” said Col. Zaabi.
He stressed that during these campaigns, the civil defence teams will reach every home in the emirate, educate people on fire safety, and ensure safety equipment are installed in every home.
“Apart from promoting safety awareness among the families, these campaigns also help our inspectors to examine the structural nature of different houses to ensure their safety in case a fire breaks out,” said the officer.
Kitchens, corridors, children’s rooms, sitting rooms and stores must be provided with smoke or heat detectors and voice alarm systems.
He noted that residents are also discouraged from the use of inflammable construction material in the houses.
According to Col. Zaabi, this campaign aims to minimise domestic fires, save lives and protect properties and that it was very important to encourage families play their role as partners in safe guarding both their lives and the lives of others from the risks of fire.
Old air conditioners, faulty wirings and exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms and circuit breakers have been sighted as the major causes of domestic fires. According to reports from the Ministry of Interior, RAK had the highest incidence of domestic fires compared to the other emirates during the recent years and this accounted for 36 per cent of the total fires which erupted across the emirate.
A recent incident in RAK occurred last week when a 47-year-old Emirati died in a massive fire that destroyed his house in the Al Dhait area.
The Emirati, who was burned to death, was sleeping when the fire broke out at his house at around 4.45am.
–Agencies–