First sergeant Saleh killed in blaze at Dubai Investment Park

by Middle East - Featured News Archives

A two-floor wall collapse caused the death of a firefighter and injured another in the fire that ravaged two warehouses in Dubai Investment Park, a Dubai Civil Defence official said on Wednesday 29th July.

Brigadier Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, Assistant Director-General of Fire and Rescue at Dubai Civil Defence, said on Tuesday 28th July, firefighters responded to an emergency call about the fire at 3:43pm.

Firefighters from several fire stations were dispatched to the area and the blaze was brought under control by 5.30pm.

However, a warehouse wall spanning two floors collapsed, causing the death of First Sergeant Adil Nasser Saleh and injuring another firefighter grievously.

“All firefighters followed the safety measures as they have experience in fighting the most complicated fires. But the wall collapse was surprising,” Brig Al Mutawa said.

A specialist team carried out an investigation to determine the reasons and circumstances behind the incident.

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, mourned the loss of the firefighter.

”The precious civil defense men are exerting efforts to protect lives, security and safety of our country. Today, Dubai lost Sgt. Adel Nasser Saleh, who was martyred during his call to duty. We ask God for mercy on him and patience and solace to his family.”

Saleh, who worked for 25 years in Civil Defence, was a father of five children. He was known for his positive spirit and participation in major fires even when he was not on duty.

Fire reported at Bournemouth beachfront

by Active

A large fire broke out at Bournemouth beach yesterday (Mon, 20th July) in front of hundreds of sunbathers – supposedly started by cooking, emergency services have said.

An unidentified beachgoer was cooking in one of the many beach huts that line West Undercliff promenade “accidentally” started the fire at 3.50pm, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

Two other beach huts caught fire and sent smoke billowing up the cliff face, with the flames spreading to 330sq ft of scrubland above the beach, the service added.

Hundreds of people watched as eight fire engines tackled the blaze – Dorset Police cordoned off the area and warned people to stay away.

Man suspected of arson after fire at Nantes Cathedral, France

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A volunteer detained for questioning over a fire at the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul cathedral in Nantes has been released without charge. The 39-year-old man was arrested in connection with a fire in the 15th-century cathedral that blew out stained glass windows and destroyed the grand organ.

The man, a Rwandan refugee, worked as a volunteer for the cathedral and had been in charge of locking up the building on Friday night, TV channel LCI reported on Sunday, citing a prosecutor.

Prosecutor Pierre Sennes said the man in custody was being held to clear up inconsistencies in his schedule.

He said three fires were reported at the site and there had been no signs of a break-in. Authorities said an investigation for suspected arson had been opened.

The blaze began on Saturday morning, engulfing the inside of the Gothic structure in flames.

The fire destroyed stained glass windows and the 17th-century grand organ – a star attraction of the cathedral.

Firefighters brought it under control after several hours and extinguished it completely by the afternoon.

It happened about a year after a fire at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris which destroyed its roof and main spire.

The building was last hit by fire in 1972 and its roof took more than 13 years to repair.

Regional fire chief Laurent Ferlay said on Saturday the damage was not comparable to the 1972 blaze, or to last year’s devastating blaze at the Notre-Dame cathedral.

Much of Notre-Dame’s roof and the wooden structure was destroyed, its steeple collapsed and fumes containing toxic molten lead billowed into the air.

21 injured after an explosion and fire on a naval ship in San Diego

by Americas - Featured News
Twenty-one people were injured after an explosion and fire on board a ship at the US Naval Base in San Diego, US Navy officials said.
“Seventeen Sailors and four civilians are being treated for non-life threatening injuries at a local hospital,” the US Navy said in a statement.
The sailors on the USS Bonhomme Richard had “minor injuries” from the fire and were taken to a hospital, Lt. Cmdr. Patricia Kreuzberger told CNN earlier Sunday.
The sailors are in stable condition, Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck told journalists Sunday evening. All of the crew is off the ship and accounted for, according to a tweet from the US Pacific Fleet Naval Surface Forces Sunday afternoon.
Firefighters battled a three-alarm fire on the ship Sunday morning, SDFD’s Mónica Muñoz said. Several different agencies worked to fight the blaze.
Two fires crews were still on board the ship Sunday afternoon, Federal Fire San Diego Division Chief Rob Bondurant said in a statement.
“Federal Fire is rotating their crews aboard the ship with U.S. Navy firefighting crews from the waterfront to fight the fire in order to find the seat of the fire and extinguish it,” Bondurant said. “Navy Region Southwest tugs are also continuously combating the fire from the bay.”
As of Sunday evening, firefighters were “at the seat of the fire, if you will,” Sobeck said. The firefighters are clearing compartment spaces in order to close in on the fire, Sobeck said.
“Sailors across this waterfront are absolutely doing a magnificent job,” Sobeck said, “They are saving their ship. We’re seeing just incredible results.”
It’s unclear what started the fire. When the fire was first reported Sunday morning, it was said to be in the lower vehicle storage area, Sobeck said, a “huge, open area where you store a lot of marine equipment and everything else.”
There is no ordnance on board, Sobeck said, “which was our initial concern” in ensuring safety on and around the ship. A safety zone has been set up around the ship, he said.
It is unclear what caused the explosion, Sobeck said. Initial reports indicated a “sort of a backdraft,” or over-pressurisation as the compartment started heating up.
The ship had about a million gallons of fuel, but it’s “well below” many of the heat sources, Sobeck said.
The ship could burn for days, “down to the water line,” San Diego Fire Chief Colin Stowell told CNN’s Erica Hill Sunday afternoon.
Sobeck, though, said the ship will probably be salvageable. “We’re absolutely going to make sure it sails again,” he said.
“She was in a stage of repair anyway,” Sobeck said. “So we’re just gonna get right back at it once we get this thing contained and put out.”
There was an explosion just as personnel were leaving the ship, Stowell said. The Navy has moved two nearby ships away from the scene, it said in a statement.
Secretary of Defence Mark Esper has been briefed on the situation, according to a defence official. Officials called for San Diego Fire Department’s assistance about 9 a.m. local time, Muñoz told CNN.
A second alarm was called at 9:09 a.m. and a third at 9:51 a.m., according to SDFD tweets. The USS Bonhomme Richard is an amphibious assault ship, according to the US Navy.
There were 160 people on board when the fire started, according to the Naval Surface Forces. The ship, which has a crew of 1,000, was undergoing maintenance.