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It's important that families living in Dubai have fire safety tips and guides in their home
23 April 2018
| Last updated on 19 January 2020
Fires in Dubai are sadly a common occurrence - with over 196 fires in buildings, villas and labour camps in 2017 alone.
Many expatriates herewill remember the Address Downtown Hotel ablaze on New Year's Eve in 2016... Which was reportedly caused by an electrical short; a spark from a cable connected to lights outside, which sat on a ledge of the 63-storey tower.
Not forgetting Torch Tower's ill-fated double blazes within months of each other, and only this week JLT's Almas Tower caught fire. The former was caused by a cigarette alone.
Of course, these are just three fires that Dubai has witnessed in previous years, and there's no denying causes for all can differ from fire to fire.
But the majority of Dubai's fires are caused by families and residents ignoring Dubai's fire safety rules.
Simple things such as lighting a barbecue indoors, or throwing a cigarette from a high-rise building can have devastating consequences... And both of these are the main causes of residential fires, especially those that begin on balconies. Electrical faults is the third highest reason behind blazes in the city.
While the majority of fires in Dubai are labelled 'accidents' however, they more than likely preventable.
To help you ensure that you are fully protected and prepared for any fire in your Dubai home or elsewhere, here are some Dubai fire safety tips that you, your partner, and your families should take note of and implement into your homes.
1. You should be prepared for all fires
It's important that you, your spouse, family members or roommates are aware of all types of potential home fires, and how they're doused correctly should they occur. Almost all Dubai properties come with a fire extinguisher and blanket that should be kept accessible at all times in case of an emergency.
If you're wondering about what type of fire extinguisher should be in your home, it's best to opt for the type that is often labelled A-B-C extinguisher. This means that it has a rating of 2A 10BC, and they're dubbed 'universal extinguishers', as they are able to combat wood, paper, cloth and other basic material fires; plus, oils and electrical fires by small appliances, wiring and other electrical items.
To add, it's also important to understand when not to use a fire extinguisher.
2. Implement a fire emergency plan
This is particularly useful if you have a family of more than 3 or 4 members - by implementing a fire emergency plan, you should show your family members and home help what they should do in case of a fire. Agree on a meeting spot in a safe space, consider alternate routes to safety and what to do if you have a double level home.
3. Allocate a member of the family to wake children, elderly and those with disabilities
If you have children, or any elderly relative(s) or a family member who has a disability living with you, it's important to discuss and allocate a member of the family who is responsible for alerting, awaking and evacuating these individuals.
4. Train everyone on emergency evacuation procedures
Families with young children should practice their evacuation plan once a month, and make sure that everyone in the family - including young children - know how to ring 999, after they get themselves to safety.
You can also practice fire safety techniques together, like staying low to the ground and when not to open a door during a fire.
5. Smoke in appropriate places only
As we have mentioned, a large proportion of Dubai's fires are caused by cigarettes that have been discarded incorrectly. If you are a smoker, avoid smoking in your bedroom, or where children are nearby. And whatever you do, do NOT throw your cigarette butt out of the window or from your balcony.
Make sure ash trays are available at all times, and that the cigarette butts are disposed of correctly in the household.
6. Do NOT barbecue indoors/in enclosed spaces
We appreciate that sometimes the weather just calls for a BBQ, but unless you live in a villa or townhouse with a garden, refrain from barbecuing at home. Don't do it indoors, nor should you BBQ on your balcony. Materials used on the external facade of Dubai's building are more often than not, extremely flammable, which has been the root cause of a number of fires in the city.
If you desperately want to enjoy a BBQ, seek a nearby community grill that you can share with your friends and neighbours. Or head to one of Dubai's many parks that offer barbecuing facilities for you to hire for free.
