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300 daredevils to keep you on the edge for 3 days

Abu Dhabi - Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, opened the 911 Challenge - UAE World Firefighter Challenge 2016 on Tuesday morning.

Veteran UAE Officer Hassan Ibrahim Al Balooshi has been a firefighter for 11 years and saved over 5,000 lives so far.
Hundreds of male and female firefighters like him, from across the world, converged in the national Capital on Tuesday to prove their mettle at a daring three-day event.
Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, opened the 911 Challenge - UAE World Firefighter Challenge 2016 on Tuesday morning.
The event, held under the patronage of Shaikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice-President of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, brought together 300 toughest firefighters from the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe at the International Exhibition for National Security and Resilience (ISNR), of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (Adnec).
Speaking on the occasion, Major General Jassim Mohammed Al Marzouki, Civil Defense General Commander-in-Chief, said it's crucial for the UAE to create opportunities that help create awareness on Civil Defense.
"They also constitute the perfect opportunity to assess Civil Defense personnel's readiness and preparedness, and to showcase the latest practices and modern techniques used to strengthen awareness, prevention and protection against fires."
He also noted that urban development, the increasing construction of skyscrapers, and the large-scale of industrial facilities established, engender new challenges, in terms of safety, security and fire prevention methods.
Major General Al Marzouqui pointed out that uniting national and international firefighters will thus "further promote our training plans and improve the readiness of our distinguished personnel in the field of firefighting."
Mohammed Hassan Al Ahmedi, CEO of 911 Firefighting Group, first introduced the annual event in the UAE and GCC in 2009, gaining unprecedented level of global popularity.
Al Ahmedi, who was a firefighter officer himself, said that creating dynamic events that reflect not only on heroism, but also, life's obstacles and challenges.
"We're proud to say we are from UAE. The challenge went to the GCC and to Europe through us. Every two years the number of participants increases by 100 per cent."
The 37-year-old pointed out that as an ex firefighting officer, he certainly did face intense challenges.
"My position as a fire officer didn't just mean that I had the lives of communities in my hands, but also the lives of my firefighters."
"You are sending these men under the fire so you want to make sure they are fit for the job."
Although the firefighters are in it to compete and win prizes under various categories, there is a big reason for the participation - It's crucial to prefect and boost their abilities and skills, in order to protect their nation, countrymen and fight what stands against them.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com