Alert Abu Dhabi school staff prevent disaster

2003 - The lives of more than 500 schoolchildren were saved by quick thinking staff after a big fire broke out in a secondary school in Abu Dhabi’s Baniyas area. According to the Civil Defence General Directorate, the fire broke out in Mohammad Al Fateh Secondary School in Eastern Baniyas around 11am when most of the students were out of their class for a break. All 550 students were immediately moved to a distance from the school, which was made of wood and tin. The Civil Defence added that the fire started in the activities section and storage facilities, and spread to other rooms. It destroyed four sports and other learning activity rooms and filled the remaining premises with smoke. However, the school staff were alert and evacuated all the students.