Move to reduce mortality rate caused by fires

Mohamed Alaa, Staff Reporter

The General Directorate of Civil Defense, in cooperation with its regional departments, and in coordination with the Security Media Department at the Ministry of Interior, has launched an accelerator (0-3) to reduce the mortality rate caused by fires in the UAE in the 100-day-challenge. The move comes within the framework of the strategic indicators of the civil defense sector.

Maj. Gen. Jassim Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Commander of the Civil Defense, said that the accelerator’s launch will have a significant impact on the sustainability of the UAE society’s sense of security and safety. It will adopt innovative methods and practices in prevention within sophisticated systems that support quick response to fires, in addition to adopting a number of local and federal legislations to achieve the desired goals.

Al Marzouqi pointed out that the directorate reviewed experience of Singapore, the first in the world in reducing the mortality rate caused by fires, and acquainted with the procedures and measures applied in this regard.

He continued, “The accelerator’s logo comes in line with the direction of the General Directorate of Civil Defense to follow the global experiences through a 3D mechanism based on leveraging innovation, partners and the community in the 100-Day Challenge.”

The focus will be on the culture of evacuation, the behaviour to be followed by target groups when incident takes place, and the adoption of robust fire safety systems in buildings and facilities.

This is besides an effective social society that contributes to the protection of lives and property, and the preservation of national gains, he added.

Al Marzouqi further noted that the executive plans have been approved and the accelerators’ schedules have been circulated at the level of each emirate. The plans will focus on raising the operational efficiency of human cadres, and intensifying field surveys in the jurisdiction areas of competence of civil defense stations across the country. In addition, they will be trained on the use of equipment and mechanisms commensurate with the nature of the scene. It also sought to enhance the response capabilities through the accuracy and correctness of alerts.

He also stressed that the commitment to the installation of safety systems that are connected to the operation room and the requirements of prevention and safety at homes and institutions are the first line of defense to prevent risks.