Firefighters who died in Palm Jumeirah fire remembered

Dubai: Two civil defence firefighters who lost their lives while performing their duty, will be remembered by family and friends as heroes.

Gulf News spoke to family members and friends of the two civil defence firefighters who died while battling a fire that broke out in a building under construction at Palm Jumeirah on Friday.

According to official sources, the firefighters died of asphyxia, as the oxygen cylinders they were carrying ran out of oxygen after about 40 minutes.

Their bodies were recovered from the gutted building early on Saturday.

Thick smoke engulfed the seven-storey building and hampered the search for the bodies until the morning.

Munder Juma'a Faraj, elder brother of Emirati firefighter Hytham, said the family was not mourning the death of Hytham, but they were celebrating the occasion.

"We are not mourning his death. We are proud that one of our family members has given back to his society and his country," he said.

Faraj said his brother, who has been working at Dubai Civil Defence since 1996, chose the job of a firefighter knowing it was a risky job.

'Feeling proud'

"We are extremely proud about Hytham. He is one of the young men of this country who devoted his life to serve his country and carry out his duty with all dedication," he said.

Hytham, a 29-year-old lieutenant, has two daughters between the ages three and two. He had just returned from a medical trip abroad with one of his daughters when the fatal accident took place.

Faraj said he would like to urge the young generation, regardless of the fields they are in, to devote themselves and their work for their country.

"We regard Hytham's death a salute to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Lt General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, who have extended his great support to the family," he said.

Faraj said Hytham loved his job and dying while performing a duty for the country is the least one could offer his country.

Another firefighter, Kamal Hussain, a Yemeni, also died while dousing the fire. Saleh, a family friend, told Gulf News Hussain, 45, has always been a brave individual who participated in rescue operations.

Hussain, who was working for Federal Civil Defence had worked as a firefighter for the last 25 years.

"He had good relationships with all his colleagues and bosses and even the former director of civil defence took part in [Hussain's burial]," Saleh said.

Hussain lived in Ajman and is survived by his wife and five children, four boys and one girl, between ages three and 13.