Dubai: Electrical short circuit, worn out gas fittings and random additions to houses are the three main causes of house fires, a senior Civil Defence officer said.
Although the number of house fires has fallen 25 per cent since 2007, it is still the highest among all blazes.
"House fires make out 33 per cent of all fires, followed by automobile fires at 32 per cent," Major Ali Al Mutawa, Director of Dubai Civil Defence's Operations Department, said.
The number of house fires dropped since 2007 thanks to many initiatives, including a nation-wide inspection campaign in which over 59,000 homes were visited in Dubai, and other awareness campaigns.
"We concluded from forensic lab reports of house fires that there are three main causes of house fires," Maj Al Mutawa said.
Short circuit
The foremost cause is electrical short circuits, which are mostly caused by bad fittings and negligence in maintenance, followed by bad cooking gas fittings, starting from the gas cylinder of central gas fittings and ending with the appliance.
The third most prevalent cause is unlicensed and random additions, such as adding partitions to sublet apartments or adding a portable cabin.
"These additions are by unlicensed by default, and they cause an overload on electricity circuits which can result in starting a fire," Maj Al Mutawa said, adding that unlicensed partitions also hinder the efforts of firemen who carry out rescue operations.
In a bid to end this violation, Civil Defence in cooperation with Dubai Municipality carried out an inspection campaign to ensure that there were no random additions to houses.
Once the main causes of house fires have been identified, protection against them is a matter of following a few pieces of advice.
"Choose the best electrical fittings for your home and don't settle for low quality because of the price," Maj Al Mutawa said.
He advised homeowners to choose central gas systems over cylinders for safety, as the systems have detectors which shut down the system automatically once an overflow is detected.
Homeowners should also check with the municipality before making any additions or alterations to their homes, because it can assess the safety of such changes.
Whereas most restaurant kitchen fires are caused by oils in the chimney which can overheat and burn due to lack of maintenance and cleaning, most kitchen fires in homes are caused by gas leaks, which in most cases result from forgetting to switch off the supply.
This causes a saturation of butane gas which only needs a spark to turn into an explosion and a fire, Maj Al Mutawa said.
While Dubai apartments are all linked to the operations room and any leakage or fire hazard is detected immediately, it is up to villa owners to install gas detectors and get connected to Civil Defence.
"People wishing to do so need to visit Civil Defence's customer service department to get their homes linked to the operations room," Maj Al Mutawa said.
Fire blanket
Other simple steps that can help include keeping a fire blanket in the kitchen, which can be purchased from any warehouse store and easily used to put out a kitchen fire.
Another a must is keeping a fire extinguisher on hand. "We prefer dry powder extinguishers because they can be used on any fire, including electrical fittings and appliances, and people can contact us for information on approved types and brands of extinguishers," Maj Al Mutawa said.
On what to do in case of fire, he advised the person in charge shut down gas and electricity, if possible, ?and call 997 for help.
"If the person is trained on using a fire extinguisher, it can be used, but otherwise it's safer to just evacuate the place and ensure that the doors are shut to prevent the spread of fire for as long as possible," Maj Al Mutawa said.
Emergency exit doors in buildings are designed to stand fire for two hours, and stair cases are pressurised to ensure that smoke rises up in case of fire in the building, so it is best to head to the emergency exit after shutting all doors.
He also advised all families to have an evacuation plan in case of fire and agree on a meeting point to make sure that no one is left behind.
Maj Al Mutawa recommended that people who go on holiday or leave their houses for a long period remove their car batteries if the cars are parked inside ?their villas. Combustible material, such as fuel or oils, should not be left near a car.
He pointed out that modern cars are subject to fires more than old ones, due to their technology.
Other causes of fire include cigarettes, children playing with matches and fireworks, and the best way to ensure safety is never to leave children unattended, he added.
Numbers
House fires make up 33 per cent of all firesOver 59,000 houses were visited in Dubai as part of the nation-wide house inspection campaignAutomobile fires make out 32 per cent of all firesTips to tackle fires
Check your gas cylinders and gas installations (pipes, hoses, valves) on a regular basis to ensure there is no leakage.Ensure gas burners are shut after use and gas sources are closed when not in use.Check whether your kitchen is fitted with a gas detector. If not, install one.All kitchen doors should be of a quality to resist fire for at least 30 minutes.To operate a gas burner or oven, ignite the matches first then turn on the burner or stove.Work out an emergency safety plan for all family members and maids, including steps to be taken during emergencies.Make sure at least one person in the family knows about the types of potential fire and the extinguishers to be used.Maintain electrical wires and cables periodically and do not expose them or install under carpets.Avoid smoking in bedrooms or rooms where children are playing. About 25% of fires are attributed to smoking.Avoid using grills and charcoal heaters in confined places.Call 997 immediatelyView the original article here
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