Dubai
Do people know what to do in case of a fire? Robert Mackenzie, a Dubai-resident who worked as a firefighter in the UK, is very particular about safety equipment in his home and building. In his opinion, many people in the UAE are uneducated about fire safety and he finds it “sad” to see the way people react when asked about fire safety.
He said: “I think that people should learn basic instructions. The fire extinguishers in everybody’s apartment are dry powder, which you can use on most fires, such as electrical or furnishing. But, education is key in this regard. People should understand which extinguisher you can use on which fire.”
He emphasises that people should be aware of how certain extinguishers cannot be used on certain fires, such as water cannot be used in an electrical fire. In his opinion, if people understood what to do in an emergency, it would be helpful for them.
He said: “I experienced a fire in my building and many people didn’t react to the alarm. People need to be alert and not just think it is a false alarm.”
A resident of Dubai Marina, he also witnessed the Torch Tower fire, as it is very close to where he lives. And based on what he saw, he urges people to educate themselves.
He said: “This year, there was a fire drill in our building. Everyone was evacuated and the Dubai Civil Defence was present. Even in our office building in Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), they held a drill.”
Many of the Gulf News readers we spoke to were unaware of the purpose of an assembly point. Mackenzie explained that in case of a big fire, it is necessary for the fire service personnel or someone from the security team to be able to do a quick headcount.
He said: “In an inferno, people could be possibly missing. Everyone must follow a fire evacuation plan.”
The UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice states that as a first line of defence, during the initial stages of fire, availability of portable fire extinguishers is mandatory for all occupants of a building. The extinguishers should be installed in a way that the top of the fire extinguisher is not more than 1.5 metres above the floor and not less than 30cm from the bottom of the extinguisher to the floor.
The operating instructions should face the front. If they are installed in fire cabinets, proper signage is required. All extinguishers should be inspected immediately after installation and at regular intervals of not more than 30 days.
