Thursday, Jan 18, 2007
Gulf News
Dubai: The Civil Defence has called on concerned authorities once again to make it obligatory for vehicles to carry fire extinguishers, as it reported an increase in the number of car fires last year.
Brigadier Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director of Dubai Civil Defence, said the number of car fires in 2006 reached 204, while in 2005 there were 155 car fires. "Statistics from the Dubai Civil Defence showed an increase in the number of car fires, as well as house fires and the main reason is that owners of cars and old houses do no abide by safety requirements," he said.
Brigadier Al Matroushi said failure to maintain vehicles regularly and to get repairs done, especially electrical repairs by specialised technicians risked an explosion and fire."We called on the concerned authorities before and call on them again to make it obligatory for cars to have fire extinguishers since they can help reduce the losses in many accidents," Brigadier Al Matroushi said.
He added that house fires could be reduced if residents deal with old electric networks that cause short circuits, clean kitchen exhaust fans, change ragged rubber gas pipes and refrain from plugging several electric appliances into a single socket and using flammable materials to partition their home without Civil Defence permission.
The number of house fires in Dubai last year was 154 compared with 165 in 2005, Al Matroushi said.
Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.
