Five children were rescued after a fire broke out at a house in A’ali, with Civil Defence teams managing to extinguish the blaze without any injuries reported, said the Interior Ministry.
The ministry later revealed in a video that one of the five children, a 16-year-old, reported the fire to the 999 control room.
“My brother and I were in the living room and we heard noise from the clothes dryer and strange fumes were coming out of it,” said the 16-year-old girl.
“My three other brothers were asleep in the bedroom.
“I called the emergency number and told them the dryer was on fire and I was asked to take everyone out – a place where smoke had not reached yet.”
The children were instructed step-by-step towards safety as firemen arrived.
The five were rescued and are in good health, the ministry added on the video.
“The fire was caused by heat pressure in the clothes dryer, which led to it catching fire, in return causing damages to the home.”
The dramatic rescue has since sparked renewed calls from MPs and community leaders for residents to urgently inspect electrical wiring, appliances and home electronics to prevent similar incidents.
Parliament’s foreign affairs, defence and national security committee chairman Hassan Bukhammas praised the quick action of Civil Defence personnel, describing the rescue as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and public awareness.
“The fact that five children were rescued safely is a blessing and a testament to the professionalism and bravery of our Civil Defence teams,” he said.
“However, this incident should serve as a wake-up call for every household in Bahrain. Many fires start because of neglected electrical faults, overloaded sockets or poor maintenance of home appliances.”
Mr Bukhammas urged families to regularly inspect electrical wiring and avoid leaving devices plugged in unnecessarily, especially during the hotter months when power usage increases significantly.
“Simple precautions can save lives,” he added.
“People should also familiarise themselves with Civil Defence safety instructions available online and through social media platforms.”
Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairman Ahmed Al Salloom, who is also chairman of Better Life Society, stressed the human side of the tragedy, particularly the emotional trauma children can experience during fires.
“One can only imagine the fear those children went through as smoke spread through their home,” he said.
“This is why community awareness is so important. Safety is not only the responsibility of authorities – it begins inside every home.”
Mr Al Salloom called on families to ensure smoke detectors are functioning properly and urged landlords and property owners to carry out periodic inspections of older buildings and electrical systems.
“Many accidents can be prevented through proper maintenance and early detection,” he said.
“As a society, we must continue promoting a culture of prevention and care, especially for children and the elderly who are most vulnerable during emergencies.”
He also praised the co-operation between emergency services and residents during the incident. “The rapid intervention by Civil Defence teams undoubtedly prevented what could have been a far more devastating tragedy,” he added.
The Interior Ministry reiterated its appeal for the public to follow official fire safety guidance and take preventive measures seriously.
A’ali and Ramli councillor Abdulla Ashoor urged parents to ensure children are constantly supervised at home, particularly during emergencies and over the summer months when fires can spread rapidly because of extreme heat.
“Children should never be left unattended around electrical appliances, chargers or kitchen areas,” he said.
“The current hot spell can make fires spread much faster inside homes, especially when air conditioners, extension cables and electronic devices are operating continuously.”
Mr Ashoor stressed the importance of teaching children basic emergency awareness, including how to react if smoke or fire breaks out.
“Parents must educate children on simple safety measures such as avoiding hiding during fires and immediately seeking help or moving to safe areas,” he added.
He also called on families to regularly inspect cooling systems and overloaded power sockets, warning that heavy summer electricity usage increases fire risks significantly.
In 2024, four people – an elderly couple, their divorced granddaughter and her six-year-old son – suffocated to death in the fire that broke out in the eight-storey residential building in Luzi on May 12.
Around 20 tenants, a number of whom suffered injuries, were rescued as Civil Defence managed to extinguish the flame within nine minutes of receiving the report.
Investigations by prosecutors ruled out criminal intent, and revealed that the fire was caused by an accidental defect and there was no human factor involved.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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