Civil defence to check fire safety measures at schools

abu dhabi — The department of civil defence in Abu Dhabi will be inspecting schools across the UAE Capital to ensure they are meeting the fire safety requirement and measures.

Authorities called upon public and private school administrations to adhere to the requirements of safety and fire prevention, before the start of the new school year.

The department urged schools to ensure the validity and work of fire and emergency devices in all school buildings across the Capital.

Authorities said the department has prepared a plan for visits to schools by inspection teams to follow up the implementation of safety and prevention measures in the schools in Abu Dhabi, as a precautionary measure to protect the safety of students.

Brigadier General Mohammed Mayouf Al Ketbi, director general of civil defence in Abu Dhabi, urged school principals and officials to ensure all safety measures, the validity of smoke detectors, fire fighting equipment and the safety and evacuation plans.

He stressed the need to inspect and maintain fire extinguishers and ensure their efficiency, as well as the plans of emergency routes, validity of exit gates, guidance boards, and paths of evacuation and assembly points during a fire.

Brigadier General Al Ketbi said it is important for schools and civil defence departments to have coordinated periodic awareness programmes provided by civil defence entities and educating students about public safety and fire prevention procedures.

It is vital to implement mock evacuation exercises in coordination with the concerned authorities as well as training staff on how to act accordingly in case of any emergency.” Brig. Gen. Mohammed Mayouf Al Ketbi, director general, civil defence in Abu Dhabi