The Civil Defence's strategic plan for 2008-2015 includes enhancing its services to meet constructional changes, population growth and the economic boom
According to Brigadier Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director of Dubai Civil Defence, 2007 has been a year of achievements for the Dubai Civil Defence.
On July 29, the Executive Office of the Dubai Government approved the new organisational administrative structure for Dubai Civil Defence. It provided a suitable environment to encourage initiatives and encourage individuals and teams to compete for excellence.
The Civil Defence has also approved its strategic plan for 2008-2015, which includes plans to enhance civil defence services so as to be in sync with the constructional changes, population and economic boom. There has also been a growth of human resources, machinery and the number of civil defence centres.
An average of five centres will be ready by 2008. Specialised studies have been completed, specifying the needs of those centres including human resources, fire engines and equipment.
Civil Defence has also agreed with property developers Emaar, to build a civil defence centre to serve a number of its projects.
The preventative measures, field work and the abilities of civil defence teams contributed in limiting the number of fires and reducing the loss of life and properties, despite the ongoing constructional boom, the emergence of new projects and the increasing economical activity in most service and tourism sectors.
Fires have also declined noticeably in hotels, factories and warehouses.
Dubai Civil Defence also brought new machines and equipment into service in 2007. This includes advanced vehicles for fire fighting and rescue, water tankers and rescue ladders that can reach heights of up to 54 metres to battle fires in high rise buildings.
Two advanced fast boats that can put out fires in ships and at ports will soon be put into service as well.
"Developing human resources is one of the main elements of our strategic plan. We constantly send groups of people abroad to study fire fighting, rescue operations and management of centres," says Al Matroushi.
In 2007, two batches of officers graduated and joined Dubai Civil Defence, while another batch went abroad to continue scientific and professional training.
In addition, the department frequently organises training and rehabilitation courses in various fields, including administration and technology.
As part of its preventive work, a number of new companies joined the production and installation sections of Civil Defence.
Simplifying procedures and implementing international standards in buildings led to an increase in the number of companies and real estate developers who registered for alarm and smart systems for monitoring buildings.
Technical achievements
The department exhibited a number of advanced vehicles and equipment such as a vehicle to attend to fires quickly, a vehicle for the transport of dangerous materials and the mobile civil defence operations vehicle that came equipped with the latest in communication equipment.
Brigadier Al Matroushi pointed out that 2008 would witness the results of the plans the Civil Defence was executing today.
