Sharjah, August 09: Increased awareness among building owners and cooperation with Civil Defence authorities in implementing safety measures led to a decrease in the number of fire incidents in Dubai and Sharjah.
According to the Director-General of Dubai Civil Defence, Maj-Gen. Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, there was a drop of 42 per cent in the number of fire incidents in Dubai during the first half of the current year, as compared to the same period last year.
He attributed the trend to several fire safety measures that were taken by building owners in collaboration with Dubai Civil Defence.
Many buildings in the emirate are equipped with DCD 24×6 alarms, a smart system which is linked to the Civil Defence control room. In case of fire, the control room gets instant information, which helps in despatching of fire-fighters promptly, he said.
At present, 4,742 buildings in Du0bai are linked to the system, which was introduced in July last year. The project allows the monitoring of smart system and alarm devices installed in buildings.In the first phase of the first safety project, the Civil Defence introduced a number of preventive projects, including a comprehensive survey for warehouses and factories aimed at enhancing safety measures.
The second phase of the project will see penalties of up to Dh50,000 being imposed on violators of building safety laws.According to the Director-General of Sharjah Civil Defence, Col. Wahid Al Serkal, only four fire incidents took place in the emirate this summer, eight less than last year. All the fires broke out in industrial areas only and caused losses of over Dh20 million.
He attributed the decrease in the number of fire cases to the efforts made by the emergency inspection committee to prevent fires in Sharjah.
Nearly 60 companies in the industrial areas were fined and warned by the emergency committee for violating safety rules.
The officer said that the Civil Defence, in coordination with emergency committee, will intensify inspections and impose tough penalties on violating companies, including fines of up to Dh100,000 and closure of business during summer.
“In 2008, we detected over 800 safety and security violations in shops and warehouses in the industrial areas. Their failure to abide by safety and security rules could lead to the occurrence of a large number of accidents and financial losses,” he said.
Col. Al Serkal expected further decline in fire cases following the implementation of the comprehensive preventive system that was introduced in Sharjah on July 1 this year.
The commercial establishments and building owners will now have to enter into contracts with one of the 300 government-approved fire safety companies which should be cleared by the Sharjah Civil Defence and Emergency Inspection Committee.
The Civil Defence has tasked the companies to provide fire safety training to 10 per cent of its employees. Watchmen at residential buildings, too, will undergo training in ways to prevent fire and use of safety equipment, he said.
Major fires in Sharjah and Dubai in 2009
February 14: Two massive fires shook Sharjah causing losses of up to Dh20 million.
March 3: Six warehouses in Sharjah Industrial Area No.13, stocked with garments and shoes, were gutted. On the same day, fires broke out at two other places in the emirate.
April 19: Goods worth millions of dirhams were destroyed in a fire that engulfed five warehouses in Sharjah Industrial Area No.15.
June 26: A major fire broke out at a warehouse in Dubai’s Al Quoz Industrial Area.
July 26: Three warehouses in Sharjah’s Industrial Area No. 4, belonging to a company manufacturing kitchen equipment, marble slabs and bathtubs, were destroyed in a fire
–Agencies