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Helicopters to fight fire

DUBAI — The Dubai Civil Defence Department is all set to introduce helicopters to fight fire in skyscrapers this year.

This was announced by Col Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director-General of the Dubai Civil Defence at the Middle East Fire Exhibition and Conference (Mefec) held yesterday.

The new technology to fight fires in skyscrapers using helicopters is to be launched following the valued support and directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

According to Al Matroushi, Mefec offers participants a platform to exchange information.

"The event showcases the latest technologies in fire fighting and safety, rescue and first aid. It also features a number of issues including accident management and communication," he said.

Al Matroushi said that Mefec annually gathers experts and scholars from around the world whose contributions enrich fire and rescue sciences of our civil defence authorities. “We are confident that the gathering will provide answers to many important questions facing fire fighters and rescuers during the course of their noble and humanitarian work,” he said.

Two helicopters will be introduced this year and by 2010, the number will go up to four, stated Al Matroushi. These helicopters will carry fire and rescue teams and supply water to the buildings within three minutes, he claimed.

According to Al Matroushi, the staff will be sent to the Netherlands and other countries for training. A number of new fire fighting systems will also be introduced including more modern fire engines and fireboats, in addition to setting up more fire stations to meet the urban expansion of the emirate. The new technology will help them handle every possible emergency situation, what with big projects like the islands and other industrial and commercial developments underway in the UAE.

He said that the department has also embarked on developing safety and preventive infrastructure.

"New technology in detection and fire fighting systems will be used efficiently. An intelligent monitoring system for buildings connected to Building Data Server (BDS) will also be launched this year. All buildings with BDS facility in Dubai will be connected to the department's operation room where fire alarm and buildings data will be received and communicated to the concerned authorities for swift action, optimum use of fire facilities, early intervention and efficient handling of fires incidents," he added.

The department has spared no effort to develop the human resources either, he said.

"The department's personnel are offered field and scientific training courses as we firmly believe that any successful plan stems from human resources. We all work in our full capacity to ensure safety for all everywhere and at all times," said Al Matroushi.