A young mother and her six-year-old son were rescued by other members of the family after a fire broke out in their home early yesterday morning.
The woman’s husband and father-in-law sprung into action and saved the pair before calling the Civil Defence, who quickly arrived to put out the blaze that damaged parts of the house in Aali’s Block 734.
The mother and child suffered from smoke inhalation and were taken to Salmaniya Medical Complex by the National Ambulance Service.
Initial investigations indicate that a malfunctioning air conditioning unit in one of the bedrooms could have triggered the blaze.
Father-in-law Kameel Abu Fathi told the GDN that he was getting ready to carry out household chores at around 6am when he smelled ‘something burning’ in the first floor of the property.
“I wanted to tend to the garden in the morning before it got too hot, when my son came to me and said there was no electricity,” he added.
“Suddenly, I felt something burning on the first floor of the house. My son and I rushed upstairs and discovered fire in one of the rooms.
“My daughter-in-law and grandchild were inside and we acted really fast to ensure their safety.
“We then called the Civil Defence to tackle the flames. Firemen inspected the room, took pictures, and left once they were sure that everybody was safe.”
According to Mr Abu Fathi, Civil Defence personnel suspected that a faulty air conditioner could have caught fire, with its plastic cover falling on the furniture below, causing the room to erupt in flames.
“They were able to contain the fire to a single room, but the entire floor has been damaged by the smoke, including the floors, doors, bathroom, walls and electric plugs,” he said.
Mr Abu Fathi praised the quick response of the Civil Defence and the National Ambulance Service.
Northern Municipal councillor Abdulla Ashoor earlier told the GDN that the child was well enough to return home but the mother was still recovering in hospital from the smoke-filled ordeal.
He said the municipality will stay in touch with the family members and help them with their needs.
He also urged all citizens and residents to be careful, especially with electrical appliances, in summer and to periodically check wiring for signs of danger.
“The most important thing is that nobody was seriously hurt in the incident,” he said.
“It is crucial, especially in this heat, to check your electrical connections periodically, including the fuse and circuit breaker. Additionally, it is important to turn off any electrical devices after use.
“A heavy electrical load is dangerous, so take steps to minimise consumption when not necessary, and stay safe.”
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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