Latest news with #SharjahCivilDefence
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Sharjah fire: Cooling operations underway after massive blaze in Al Hamriyah
Cooling operations are currently underway at Al Hamriyah Port in Sharjah, following a massive fire that took 24 hours to bring under control. The fire broke out at 6.10 am on Saturday and was fully contained by 6.25am on Sunday morning, according to officials. The cooling process aims to prevent any potential flare-ups; once the area is declared safe, forensic and technical teams will be allowed to enter the site and begin investigations into the cause of the fire. Results of the investigations will be announced after all technical assessments. The fire, described as one of the largest industrial blazes in the emirate in recent years, was caused by the ignition of highly flammable petrochemical materials. The intensity of the flames and smoke was such that they could be seen from neighbouring emirates. Authorities responded swiftly, activating a coordinated emergency response that involved local and federal entities. Sharjah Civil Defence deployed advanced firefighting equipment including foam tankers and high-capacity water pumps. The Sharjah Civil Aviation Authority and the Sharjah International Airport Authority provided aerial surveillance using helicopters and air jets to assess the spread and intensity of the fire. Municipal teams from Sharjah and Al Hamriyah supported the operation by supplying water tankers and logistical support. Sharjah Police cordoned off the surrounding areas, evacuated nearby buildings, and managed traffic to ensure public safety. Major General Abdullah Mubarak bin Amer, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police and Chairman of the Local Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Team, praised the professionalism of the teams involved. 'The rapid response, high-level coordination, and use of specialised equipment played a vital role in bringing the situation under control without casualties,' he said. 'What we witnessed was an integrated national effort.' Key support also came from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence, National Guard, National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), all of whom contributed equipment, personnel, and technical expertise.
Khaleej Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Watch: UAE unveils world's first jet-powered firefighting drone
In a bid to reduce response time in battling fires, the UAE unveiled the world's first jet-powered firefighting drone on Wednesday, May 28. Named 'Suhail', the drone was unveiled at the UAE Pavilion during Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. The drone is equipped with smart systems and allows access to hotspots that cannot be reached manually, and enhances the speed and effectiveness of fire response. It features cutting-edge computer vision and LiDAR-based 3D scanning for precise mapping, target detection, and obstacle avoidance and is equipped with integrated smart systems that enable vertical flight, precise manoeuvring, and efficient performance in difficult conditions. Watch the video below: Ù�سؤÙ�Ù�Ù�Ù� Ù�Ù� Ù�Ù�ئة أبÙ�ظبÙ� Ù�Ù�دÙ�اع اÙ�Ù�دÙ�Ù� Ù�Ø°ØدثÙ�Ù� عÙ� اÙ�طائرة اÙ�Ù�سÙ�Ù�رة "سÙ�Ù�Ù�"Ø� اÙ�Ø£Ù�Ù�Ù� Ù�Ù� Ù�Ù�عÙ�ا Ù�Ù� اÙ�عاÙ�Ù� اÙ�Ø°Ù� ذعÙ�Ù� بÙ�ØرÙ�اذ دÙ�ع Ù�Ù�اثةØ� اÙ�Ø°Ù� Ù�Ø´Ù�Ø° عÙ�Ù�ا اÙ�Ù�Ù�ئة Ø®Ù�اÙ� Ù�عرض Ø¥Ù�سبÙ� 2025 Ù�Ù� اÙ�Ù�اباÙ�Ø� Ù�Ù�سÙ�Ø·Ù�Ù� اÙ�ضÙ�Ø¡ عÙ�Ù� رÙ�ادة #أبÙ�ظبÙ� Ù�Ù� Ù�جاÙ�اذ اÙ�سÙ�اÙ�Ø© اÙ�عاÙ�Ø©. — Ù�Ù�ذب أبÙ�ظبÙ� اÙ�إعÙ�اÙ�Ù� (@ADMediaOffice) May 28, 2025 Last September, the Sharjah Civil Defence announced it will use drone technology to deal with fires in high-rise buildings in the emirate, starting in 2025. The new technology will enter service in the first quarter of 2025. The authority had tested the drone with a technical team from the Civil Defence and the company Drone First Building Services, based in the UAE.
Khaleej Times
24-05-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
How to store medicines safely: Sharjah authority issues advisory
To ensure public safety and prevent accidental poisoning, the Sharjah Civil Defence Authority has issued an important advisory urging residents to follow proper guidelines for storing medications at home. Under the campaign slogan Stay Alert, Stay Safe the authority highlighted several key precautions to protect children from the dangers of unsupervised access to medicines. The advisory warned against relying on high shelves as a safe storage option, as children may still reach them out of curiosity. Instead, parents are urged to use closed, tightly locked cabinets for all medicinal storage. Additionally, the public is reminded not to depend only on tamper-evident containers, since they are not child-proof and can still be easily opened by young children. Medications should also be kept away from direct sunlight and high temperatures to make sure the quality remains intact. The Sharjah Civil Defence Authority also stressed the importance of vigilance and proactive safety measures in every household. In case of emergencies, residents are advised to call the emergency number 997.
Gulf Insider
14-04-2025
- Gulf Insider
Sharjah Tower Fire: Owner And Manager Face Legal Action After Fatal Blaze
Legal action is being taken against the owner and manager of a Sharjah high-rise after a deadly fire exposed serious safety violations in the building, a top official told Gulf News. The blaze, which broke out early Sunday morning in a 51-story residential tower, tragically claimed the lives of five residents — all of African nationality — who died while trying to escape the building and but fell to death. The building, which includes 42 residential floors and nine levels of parking, housed six apartments per floor. Sharjah Civil Defence confirmed that 148 residents were successfully evacuated during the emergency. According to Brigadier Sami Khamis Al Naqbi, Director General of Sharjah Civil Defence, the victims attempted to descend from the upper floors using ropes installed for ongoing repainting work. While one resident survived the descent, others lost their grip and fell. One victim landed on external scaffolding, which collapsed under the impact. Investigation Continues On Monday, residents were allowed to return to their homes, with the exception of those on the 42nd floor — where the fire originated. That floor remains sealed as forensic experts continue their investigation. The final report on the cause of the blaze is expected to be released soon. Violations Following a detailed inspection, officials uncovered multiple violations, including overcrowded shared living spaces and dangerously overloaded electrical systems — conditions suspected to have contributed to the fire. 'If the building manager and owner are found responsible for these breaches or for failing to meet safety standards, strict legal measures will follow,' Brigadier Al Naqbi said, noting that some offences may be referred to the judicial system for prosecution. Before the incident, the building had previously been flagged for safety risks. Flammable cladding on the façade had been removed earlier as part of a Dh100 million government-led fire safety campaign. Officials believe this step helped contain the blaze and prevented an even greater disaster. Fire safety campaign Sharjah authorities have been actively replacing dangerous exterior materials on high-risk buildings. As part of the first phase, 20 of the 40 identified buildings have already undergone upgrades. In April 2023, 203 buildings were categorised as urgent cases, with a second phase targeting an additional 163 medium-risk structures — all over seven stories high. The campaign involves replacing flammable panels with fire-resistant materials to minimise fire spread and provide emergency services with crucial response time.
The National
13-04-2025
- General
- The National
Sharjah residential building fire brought under control
A fire in a high-rise apartment block in Sharjah broke out on Sunday morning but is now under control, officials have said. Civil defence personnel in the emirate responded to the blaze in the upper floors of the residential tower. Once fire teams reached the site, residents were evacuated while the fire was extinguished. On the ground, police teams managed the movement of traffic to ensure the safety of passing motorists. The name of the building or the area in which the fire broke out was not released. No injuries were reported. In September, The National reported that firefighting drones equipped with water tanks were set to take to the skies of Sharjah to help extinguish fires in high-rise buildings starting this year. Sharjah Civil Defence said the use of the advanced technology – due to be introduced in the first three months of 2025 – will help reduce response times and boost safety in critical emergencies when every second counts. The UAE-based Drone First Building Services company has been working with the authorities to ensure the unmanned aerial vehicles are ready for lift-off. A prototype was put through its paces in a test mission on Wednesday.
