Thursday, Jun 18, 2009
Gulf News
Sharjah: The Al Hamriya area now has a water tanker with a capacity of 9,000 gallons to allow authorities to easily put out fires related to petro-chemicals.
Sharjah's Civil Defence on Wednesday opened its fire station next to the Hamriya Free Zone. It will have fire trucks equipped with over 20 fire hoses each.
"We would waste a lot of time sending trucks to the Free Zone, and the main problem we faced was a lack of water.
"On many occasions we needed the help of the municipality and the police, as well as from the Civil Defence authorities in Ajman and Umm Al Quwain to put out fires in factories," said Colonel Abdul Wahid Eisa Al Serkal, chief of the Sharjah Civil Defence.
"There are hundreds of factories in the area that work with petrol and chemicals, so now we are ready to take out all the fires if they occur and also help out... neighbouring emirates," he said.
The new fire station is Sharjah's ninth. An upgrading exercise in coming weeks will include the addition of three 9,000-gallon water tankers in three other fire stations.
The last fire to break out in the Hamriya Free Zone was in January 2008 and was caused by an oil storage tanker that caught fire.
Colonel Al Serkal blamed most industrial fires on the lack of safety precautions taken by workers.
"They usually cook in their rooms and then forget about it, and go on doing other chores. It is important that they stop this practice and do not keep gas cylinders and cooking appliances inside their accommodation."
By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2009. All rights reserved.
