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No fire alarms/fire extinguishers in many Abu Dhabi villas

Abu Dhabi - In villa compound 316, which is located in MBZ, zone 19, there are four villas without fire alarms or fire extinguishers.

As authorities have intensified efforts to control fire and improve people's safety following the horrific incident in which a mother lost her seven children in a house fire, a Khaleej Times investigation has found that many family villas in Abu Dhabi don't have fire alarms while others lack fire extinguishers.
A Khaleej Times reporter visited several villa compounds in Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) city, especially those shared by families and found there were no fire extinguishers and fire alarms installed in the houses.
In villa compound 316, which is located in MBZ, zone 19, there are four villas without fire alarms or fire extinguishers.
"I have stayed here for more than a year but wasn't keen on finding out whether there are fire extinguishers," said Egyptian expat Osama K, one of the residents in the villa.
"Luckily, we haven't had any case of fire in the complex but it's really not a good thing having no fire alarms or fire extinguishers," he said.
In the eight villas, also in residential compound 367 in MBZ, zone 7, neither fire alarms nor fire extinguishers were installed.
Tariq Mohammed, who was a tenant in one of these villas for more than two years and had just shifted to a new house in Musaffah Shabia, said "it's a common practice".
"It's absurd that landlords don't bother installing fire alarms and fire extinguishers in residential villas," said the 49-year-old Pakistani expat. Mohammed said the new residential building in Musaffah Shabia where he stays now has fire alarms and fire extinguishers, but not many tenants know how to use these gadgets.
"People need to be educated on how to use the fire extinguishers and how to press the fire alarm buttons in case a fire breaks out," he said.
Several other villas in Al Muroor Road area, including villa 57 along Al Walah Street and villa 9 near street 25 also have no fire extinguishers or fire alarms installed inside.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com