11th Firemen Day Festival to commence on March 7
KFSD holds press conference
KUWAIT CITY, March 3: The 11th Firemen Day Festival will kick off on March 7 under the patronage of State Minister for Cabinet and Municipal Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Sabah, says Deputy Director of Firefighting Affairs and Human Resources Department in Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) Brigadier Khalid Al-Mikrad.
Al-Mikrad made the announcement in a press conference Sunday at the KFSD headquarters. He explained the festival is aimed at raising public awareness on the vital role played by the firemen, their efforts in saving lives and property, the dangers of fire, and ways of dealing with fire incidents.
Disclosing that the festival is a threeday event which will be held in Souk Sharq, Al-Mikrad said the participants include members of the Military Fire Brigade Command in the Ministry of Defense, Fire and Rescue Unit in the National Guard, the Safety and Security unit in Kuwait Oil Company, and the Martyrs Office.
Praising the efforts exerted by the firefighters in dealing with fire incidents and other emergencies, Al-Mikrad asserted sometimes it takes days to douse fire; affirming that Kuwait’s fire departments have the most advanced machines and equipment, not to mention the modern naval fleet used in dealing with emergencies in the sea.
Responding to questions on the recent fire outbreak in Amghara, Al-Mikrad said the final report will be released once the Forensic investigation is completed. He expects the report to be ready by the end of this week. He added the committees formed to tackle the Amghara fire are looking deeper into the incident to identify the root of the problem and ways to solve it. He confirmed the necessary steps have been taken to determine if the fire was an accident or deliberate. He admitted there are indications that some of the fire outbreaks in the area were deliberate, indicating that investigations in this regard are ongoing.
Al-Mikrad went on to say the committees formed in the wake of the tyres fire in Ardiyah presented recommendations to protect the area from fire and to ensure easy access for firefighting teams in case of fire. He revealed the possibility of setting up a club for firemen was discussed with the Kuwait Municipality earlier. He added three new fire centers have started operations in Kabad and Failaka Island, while another is undergoing renovation and the Umm Al-Hayman Fire Center will be finished by the end of this year.
On his part, Public Relations Department Director at KFSD Lieutenant Colonel Khalil Al-Amir said the festival will include performances, plays, competitions and exhibitions.