The death of seven Emirati children in a house fire in Fujairah during the early hours of Monday has left the UAE shocked and saddened to the core. The mother’s grief and trauma, who now is the sole survivor - her husband having died a few years back - is truly indescribable. While investigations are under way to determine the cause of the fire, the issue of fire safety is a critical concern for authorities who have been continually raising awareness on it and providing advice for families on the precautionary measures they must take at all times.

Last year alone, house fires claimed many lives including those of a five-year-old girl at a villa in Al Warqa’a and Emirati twin sisters, aged 20, in Al Twar, Dubai.

The UAE is doing its utmost to enhance its fire-response system by investing in modern fire prevention technology, qualified firefighters, sustained public awareness campaigns against the risks of fires, and intensified measures to meet challenges. As a result of this sustained action, fire accidents in buildings and establishments across the UAE decreased by 41 per cent during the first half of 2017, below the targets set by the General Command of the Civil Defence’s fire safety strategy for 2017-2021, according to GCCD statistics.

But what will validate the UAE’s efforts is residents ensuring they observe every caution and precaution to keep their homes, and themselves, safe. Periodic checks and maintenance of all potential fire sources - including faulty wiring, household appliances and areas such as the kitchen and bathroom, along with best practices during cooking and other fire-related activities, are critical responsibilities every resident must undertake - and also teach their children. The latter is of critical importance as often, children, lacking in awareness and mentoring, may be tempted to indulge in risky adventures with fire-inducing elements.

This sense of awareness also includes, particularly for a private home owner, the need to secure their home with all forms of fire-fighting equipment, including smoke detectors, sprinklers and fire-fighting units. This is a necessary investment, given the incalculable losses that can occur in case a fire emergency goes out of control.

Ultimately, the truth about a fire is that it starts on a premises, whether in a home, office or factory. So it is up to each individual inhabiting that place to be proactive in preventing it.