Citizens and residents have been urged to ensure that they instal and regularly maintain smoke alarms and air conditioners to minimise the risk of fires breaking out in their homes.
Civil Defence director-general Brigadier Ali Al Kubaisi revealed that the directorate had handled more than 8,500 reports between the start of the year and mid-July.
Speaking to the Al Amn Magazine, Brig Al Kubaisi said that Civil Defence officials would continue conducting awareness campaigns to promote a culture of prevention and reduce household accidents.
“We call on members of the community to adhere to safety guidelines at home,” he said.
“It is important to instal and regularly maintain smoke detectors, and to keep a fire extinguisher and fire blanket readily available for use.
“Residents should ensure that unused electrical appliances are switched off, air conditioners are regularly serviced, and cooking is never left unattended.”
Brig Al Kubaisi said that spending long periods at home requires greater caution when using electrical appliances, energy sources and electronic devices. He stressed the importance of monitoring devices that require charging.
“This includes mobile phones, tablets and electronic gaming devices,” he said.
“Leaving such devices plugged in for extended periods or charging them in unsuitable locations, such as on furniture or fabrics, without supervision can pose serious fire hazards.
“People should also exercise caution when using open flames, including incense burners and scented candles, and ensure children are closely supervised around them at all times.
“Safety is a shared responsibility, and prevention begins with awareness of potential hazards and avoiding negligence in dealing with them.”
Brig Al Kubaisi said the Civil Defence handled 8,555 reports between January and mid-July, covering firefighting, rescue and emergency response operations across the kingdom’s four governorates. By comparison, the directorate responded to 14,690 reports during 2025.
“These operations were carried out efficiently and professionally, achieving record response times that helped protect lives and property while minimising losses,” he said.
“This success is the result of enhanced personnel readiness and the modernisation of firefighting and rescue equipment, strategically distributed across the kingdom to ensure rapid deployment and arrival at incident sites in record time.
“We remain committed to strengthening both digital and field-based communication channels to ensure preventive safety guidelines reach all citizens and residents, thereby enhancing public awareness and ensuring the highest levels of community safety.”
The General Directorate of Civil Defence has so far implemented 29 safety campaigns during the summer this year. This includes campaigns focusing on vehicle safety, fuel station safety, shared housing and swimming pool safety.
Additionally, periodic inspection campaigns were held throughout the year, including 662 field visits to shops, restaurants and other establishments to ensure compliance with safety and fire prevention requirements.
The inspections covered the condition and functionality of fire alarms and extinguishers, the safety of electrical installations, evacuation plans, fire suppression systems and emergency exits, as well as staff preparedness and training to respond to emergencies.
Last month, a 27-year-old mother and her three children – aged five, three and one – died after a fire broke out in a residential building within the Al Ramli housing complex.
In the event of an emergency, members of the public are urged to contact the Emergency Call Centre by dialling 999. The service is free of charge and provides access to all emergency services, including the fire service, police and ambulance.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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