‘Negligence is the main cause of fires’

sharjah — Domestic negligence including leaving incense burners inside the closets or under curtains and using of poor quality power extension wires are some of the major causes for fires erupting in the emirate, warned the Sharjah Police. The warning was issued following the increase in the number of domestic fire accidents in Sharjah.

Col Adil Al Mazmi, fire accidents expert at the forensic laboratory of the Sharjah Police, said the recent investigations revealed that negligence and lack of awareness led to fire accidents at villas and explosions in the kitchen.

He said that majority of the domestic accidents could have been avoided with a little care. “People should be aware of the potential dangers of everyday items such as candles and incense burners, which are often left inside the wardrobes or at inflammable places, that can lead to accidents.”

He added that while investigating one of the accidents, the fire experts found the family were used to leaving hazardous materials like iron box in the socket for a long time and placing lighters at locations reachable to children.

Rats can cause fire

Col Al Mazmi also warned of the presence of rodents, which eat electric wires or connection of gas cylinders. In many cases, rats and mice have been the cause behind gas cylinder explosions. “Tenants must inform the municipality about the presence of rodents or use pesticide to curb them.”

Deliberate acts

He said that some fire accidents that occur in warehouses, commercial

Fatal cases

centres, workshops, shops, and towers were caused deliberately to obtain insurance or hide evidence of a crime; but the most common cause of the fire was negligence and lack of awareness about fire prevention. Sharjah has witnessed unfortunate incidents like the one that claimed the lives of two Pakistani children, aged nine and five, when a fire erupted in their house in Al Ghaifah area.

In another case, a mother and her two daughters aged 13 and 12 from Comoros, were killed during the fire that erupted in a shared house inhabited by two families in the Qadisiya area last year.

Smoke detector is best solution

The Sharjah Civil Defence has confirmed the need to install mandatory smoke detectors at homes throughout the emirate by next year. “They are useful and aim to detect fires earlier, hence preventing the loss of lives and property,” he said.

Tenants must inform the municipality about the presence of rodents or use pesticide to curb them.” Col Adil Al Mazmi, fire accidents expert, Sharjah Police