Sharjah plans more fire stations

Sharjah has a shortage of fire stations to effectively tackle the blazes in the central region, a senior official has said adding that there was an urgent need to reinforce the civil defence capabilities.

Maj. Gen. Mohammed Salim bin Kardoos, director-general of the General Directorate of Civil Defence, Ministry of Interior, said many times firefighters in the central region have reported arriving at the scene of a fire only after the building has been gutted.

The central region has only one fire station based in Dhaid that covers the entire region, spanning an area of 100 square kilometres and comprising desert and mountainous terrain.

Thus, it is difficult to reach remote areas in the event of a fire. More often, fire engines reach the scene of accident too late. The fire station also uses outdated vehicles and lacks logistics and personnel.

"The vast stretch and difficult terrain of the region, coupled with the emirate's growth, makes it difficult for the civil defence department in Dhaid to cater to the increasing number of fires. More fire stations and logistics should be put in place," said Col. Ghareeb Shaban, director of the emirate's civil defence department.

Apart from the headquarters there are six fire stations in the emirate (Samnan, Muwaileh, Al Mina, Dhaid, Kalba and Khor Fakkan).

He said the emirate has a total of eight fire engines, including five provided by the ministry and three by the local government.

Kardoos said the central region of Sharjah needs more fire stations. "Plans are underway to set up more fire stations and get more fire engines."

The ministry, he said, has urged Sharjah to help it set up additional fire stations and bring in more fire engines. He said the ministry's budget is not enough and that it needs the support of the local government in the various emirates.

"We have called for a budget increase," he said. "But we need Sharjah government's support to achieve the new projects in the central and eastern regions."

The ministry is budgeting a project to set up a fire station in Al Madam. He said a temporary fire station is being set up and attached to Al Madam Police station until the project is completed. The temporary fire station will attend to fires and road accidents in Al Madam and the nearby areas.

A fire station will also be set up at Al Bayahis roundabout in Dhaid and will be equipped to cover the whole region. The Department of Public Works in Sharjah will soon start construction work, which is expected to be completed in two years.

The existing Dhaid fire station will also be replaced. Another fire station will open in Wadi Al Hilu.

In Sharjah city, the ministry has set aside money to construct a new civil defence headquarters and three fire stations in Saja'a, Al Hamriya and Al Nahda. The civil defence headquarters and Al Nahda fire station will be budgeted next year.

Ministry seeks help from government
* Sharjah emirate has only seven fire stations. The central and eastern regions of the emirate are severely affected by the shortage of fire stations.

* Ministry of Interior has sought the help of local governments in setting up new fire stations.

* The interior ministry has plans to set up new fire stations in Al Madam, Al Bayahis roundabout in Dhaid, Wadi Al Hilu.

* It also has plans to set up three more fire stations in Saja'a, Al Hamriya and Al Nahda.