Two fires show that safety codes work

No one was killed in the Torch blaze; 10 died in Mussaffah, proving enforcement is all

A massive fire engulfed Torch Tower in the early morning hours in Dubai Marina, February 21, 2015. Sarah Dea / The National

There are as many as four house fires a week in Dubai, but that number is declining. When fires do break out and the safety code is properly enforced, the consequences don’t have to be deadly. These are the conclusions that must be drawn from the fire in the Torch in Dubai Marina on Friday. The damage to life and property could have been immense, but aside from a handful of cases of smoke inhalation, not a single person was injured or killed in the incident. This is a considerable achievement considering that, at 336 metres, the Torch is one of the tallest residential buildings on the planet.

While proper enforcement of fire codes helped avert tragedy in the Torch, another fire in a low-rise building in Mussaffah resulted in the deaths of 10 people, with several more severely injured. The reason for this disparity in outcomes is simple: 100 people were illegally crammed into the two-storey commercial building in Mussaffah. Fire codes had been ignored.

After the Torch fire, however, there has been a lively discussion about the need for additional fire safety measures in tall buildings and some people have started to ask how the elderly and sick can be evacuated in the event of a fire. There are never likely to be any foolproof solutions but it is always a good idea for residents to familiarise themselves with fire safety protocols to ensure that they are well prepared.

It is clear that the procedures already in place are sufficient, so long as they are followed. The challenge is one of enforcement if we are to avoid tragedies such as the one that occurred in Mussaffah. We must crack down on illegal residences and ensure people live in buildings that are properly equipped for emergencies. This includes otherwise legal residential buildings, which are not properly equipped with fire alarm systems or where fire safety equipment is not regularly maintained or where emergengy exits and staircases are used as adhoc storerooms. As this newspaper reported in August after visiting 14 residential buildings in Abu Dhabi neighbourhoods, three had no fire alarms systems at all.

The Torch fire showed that the system is working. However, in matters of safety, there is always scope for improvement.