Dangers of incense burners raised in Civil Defence video

Instagram post is latest message in summer long fire safety campaign

The dangers of leaving incense burners unattended in the home are highlighted in a fire safety Instagram video by the Ministry of Interior.

It is the latest fire safety initiative during a summer long public awareness campaign.

The 'Your Protection is our Goal' project was launched in June by the Civil Defence General Command.

The short video shows firefighter Maitha Al Khayat speaking about how incense burners commonly used by Emirati women can become a fire hazard.

“Beware of leaving the incense burner in the room on the table or inside closets, which may be a hazard as incense sparks can cause a fire,” said first officer Al Khayat, who posted the video on social media on Thursday.

“Never leave burning incense unattended and always put out the incense burner if you are leaving the house or going to sleep.

“Avoid putting candles and incense near flammables such as curtains and clothing, keep them out of reach of children and buy good quality incense burners,” she said.

Al Khayat said users should always extinguish the used charcoal before discarding the remains, and to burn incense in a well-ventilated area to avoid setting off smoke detectors.

The new initiative will continue until the end of August with the aim of promoting public safety and encouraging a fire prevention culture among communities and institutions.

It also aims to achieve the highest health and vocational safety at homes, workplaces and roads.

Last April, a crew of female Emirati firefighters were hailed for breaking new ground in the country by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with the history-making women, who graduated from an all-female firefighting course in Sharjah, at Qasr Al Bahr Majilis

As Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Sheikh Mohamed said the women are "true partners" in the development of the nation.

The UAE's latest batch of firefighters completed on-the-job training at both the Civil Defence Academy and the Police Academy in Sharjah, with hands-on exercises and team building.