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Human behaviour can ensure safety in most UAE fires

Experts weigh in on causes of fires in homes and how they can be prevented.

Lt.-Col Ali Hassan Al Mutawa from the Dubai Civil Defence said residential fires usually increase in the summer season and during the Holy Month of Ramadan. This year, 22 home fire incidents were reported in various parts of Dubai.
"Most fires happened in the kitchen by human error, inexperience and negligence. Many residents do not know how to use a fire extinguisher," he said.
He also said that most deaths occur when people are asleep. The possibility of suffocation increases when residents are asleep, he explained.
"Many of the old houses have placed iron bars on windows and have one exit, which impede the process of saving people," he said. "This is in addition to the presence of irregularities in the construction of the house. Sometimes people add extensions because they want to accommodate large number of inhabitants while ignoring safety rules."
Lt-Col Al Mutawa said deaths during residential fires are often caused by suffocation due to thick smoke which reduces oxygen in the blood. "Lack of oxygen makes a man lose consciousness. This could also lead to people being burnt alive, especially if someone is asleep when the fire breaks out," he added.
He called on housewives to educate maids and take necessary preventive measures in kitchens such as cleaning fume hoods thoroughly to make sure there are no oils or fats stuck on the cooking equipment, and also not to leave kitchen clothes close to the stoves.
Lt.-Col Mutawa said preventive behaviour is one of the fundamental issues of awareness for residents to avoid loss of life. "Proper human behaviour ensures safety in more than 50 per cent of the cases. Raising public awareness about fire safety practices is important," he said.
amira@khaleejtimes.com