Call for caution as fire incidents are on the rise

Observer

06-05-2025

Fire cases in summer have become quite common, with losses of human lives and property reported year after year. However, a well-adhered-to safety policy and security concerns can help prevent these losses.
The firefighting teams of the Civil Defence and Ambulance Department (CDAA) have called for a collective effort to minimise fire incidents during extreme heat, emphasising that safety is everyone's responsibility.
With temperatures rising, the chances of sunburn; and vehicle and A/C fires are also high. The CDAA has urged precautions against such mishaps.
'Safety from accidents, especially fire-related incidents during the summer when temperatures climb high, is of great importance. Civilians and firefighters have a significant role in controlling such accidents and minimising losses when they occur,' a spokesperson from the CDAA said.
'As far as industrial fires are concerned,' he adds, 'a proper and effective HSE system needs to be developed and implemented, while all staff members should be well-educated on safety aspects.'
Accordingly, a set of preventive measures should be taken by everyone in industrial and residential areas to avoid explosions. They include installing smoke and gas detectors on the premises, checking the surroundings of the house before leaving for travel or going away, storing flammable materials away from other materials and exposed areas, ensuring no gas flow is still running after cooking to prevent gas leakage and not leaving candles unattended to avoid open flames.
CDAA further advised citizens and residents to take necessary precautions before heading to rocky mountains, as there has been a rise in unfortunate events such as fire accidents in various regions, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
Nevertheless, these disastrous events may be caused by scorching weather, explaining the recent fire accidents across the Sultanate of Oman due to climate change. While industrial fires are mostly the result of negligence, as people give less priority to HSE standards and machines are subjected to work under extreme heat, vehicles are also subject to heat hazards.
'Those behind the wheels should take extra care, as there is a surge in vehicle fires in summer due to unmaintained parts, overheated cables and A/Cs burning due to overuse and defunct parts,' CDAA official said. He suggests a set of preventive measures. 'Always try to park your vehicle in the shade as much as possible, keep the windows of the vehicle slightly open when parked to emit hot air, avoid keeping inflammable materials inside the car, conduct routine checks on parts, fix loose cables, perform periodic changes and replace filters as needed,' he suggested.He added that people should keep a fire extinguisher near the driver's seat, avoid smoking, as even a small spark can lead to a fire since vehicle interiors are built of plastic and other highly flammable materials and also to be mindful of switching off the engine immediately if you smell rubber or plastic burning inside or outside the car.