DUBAI // Ensuring electrical circuits are not overloaded is a priority, an expert said as it was revealed that short circuits were the leading cause of fires in Dubai.
Maj Gen Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, director of Dubai Civil Defence (DCD), said his department responded to 193 incidents in the first half of this year – an increase from 158 in the same period last year.
Eighty-two of those incidents took place in homes, he said.
Of the 193 incidents, 34 were due to short circuits, 10 were caused by a lit cigarette, nine were due to unattended candles and five were due to incense (bakhoor).
However, the DCD chief said that more than 97 per cent of recorded fires were minor cases.
Mark Fenton, of Honeywell Fire Safety, said the industry needed to ensure that there was sufficient training and maintenance programmes in place for operators. He said it was untrue that fires were more common in the summer than in the winter.
“What’s worth looking at are the differences between older building and newer buildings, and the inherent risks older buildings have,” he said. “When older buildings are loaded with more people and air-conditioning units, they put more load on the electricity or power supply within the building and, if it is not designed to take that extra load, or it’s not installed correctly or badly maintained, then there is a risk that there will be an overload on the system and potentially cause a fire.”
Mr Fenton said public awareness was crucial.
“Residents need to equip themselves with basic safety knowledge, including the key causes of fire around the home, and ensure they know what to do should a fire occur,” he said.
“One challenge is bringing a lot of people from different cultures and backgrounds together, whose level of safety awareness is different.
“In the labour camps, it comes down to the owners of the camps making sure that they’re fit for purpose in terms of the electrical system, to deal with the air-conditioning, the cooking and the lighting – and that it’s designed for the right number of people.”
Dubai resident Sari Tuqan, 30, said: “We once had an incident in a JLT building, where someone had thrown a cigarette butt, resulting in a fire eruption up to four floors but because the fire alarms would intermittently go off, no one took it seriously.
“Even if they were drills, no one notified us beforehand.
“In my old office building, they had installed the ground-floor fire exit to open inwards instead of outwards, which is also a fire hazard.”
Dubai resident S S, 30, has experienced two fires this year. “One in my office building and the second at home. I think once you experience the reality of how scary a fire actually is, living and working in high-rise buildings is really put into perspective,” she said.
“My husband and I are now looking for a villa, as one of the biggest concerns we have about living in apartments is the fire risk.
“After the fire scares this year – which both started due to a short circuit in the air-conditioning units – I became a little bit paranoid. Every day I turn off all of the plugs that are not in use and, when we travel, I turn off the air-conditioning, close the blinds and turn off all electric plugs.”
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
MATCH INFO
Who: France v Italy
When: Friday, 11pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
RESULTS
5pm Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Munfared, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Sawt Assalam, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Dergham Athbah, Pat Dobbs, Mohamed Daggash
6.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Rajee, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Kerless Del Roc, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Pharoah King, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8pm Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Sauternes Al Maury, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
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No%20Windmills%20in%20Basra
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SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Lecce v SPAL (6pm)
Bologna v Genoa (9pm)
Atlanta v Roma (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Hellas Verona (3.30pm)
Juventus v Brescia (6pm)
Sampdoria v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sassuolo v Parma (6pm)
Cagliari v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Torino (11.45pm)
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
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