A view of the house gutted by fire in Umm Al Quwain.

Mohammed Al Mahi, Staff Reporter

The Directorate of Civil Defence in Umm Al Quwain (UAQ) evacuated 170 people after a fire erupted in a house in Al Hamra area on Sunday.

The directorate’s firefighters were able to bring the fire under control. No casualties were reported.

The operations room received a report at 8:15am on Sunday that a house was under fire.

Fire engines, ambulances and traffic patrols rushed to the scene and the rescue teams evacuated the house and the neighbouring houses while firefighters brought the blaze under control and put out the fire before handing the site to the competent authorities for further procedures.

According to Colonel D. Salim Hamad Bin Hamdah, Director of Umm Al Quwain Civil Defence, the firefighters were able to discharge their tasks most professionally though the random extensions made to the old buildings and houses without obtaining the necessary approvals from the competent authorities rendered it difficult for firefighters to deal with the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other premises.

Hamdah called on residents and owners to abide by fire prevention requirements and public safety rules to help save lives and property.