PACDA issues advice after spike in house fires

Energy Wednesday 23/May/2018 20:17 PM
By: Times News Service
PACDA issues advice after spike in house fires

Muscat: Oman’s Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) has asked people not to use dishes, which contain metallic elements in their microwave ovens.
“One of the causes for fire accidents can be the usage of such electrical equipment,” said an official from PACDA, speaking to Times of Oman.
“Metals such as aluminium can get spoilt and can cause fire once we use them in the microwave. We should follow the manufacturer manuals given for the use of these devices.”
“We advise people to be careful, especially during Ramadan,” he added. “When most of the families prepare food in the kitchen, we advise them to avoid fire accidents either from microwave ovens or from any kind of appliances that can cause fire, so as to avoid burns, especially in this heat. We should use vessels recommended by the manufacturer and not those made of metals or aluminium materials.”
According to reports by the National Centre for Statistical Information (NCSI), there was a 13 per cent increase in fires across the Sultanate in 2016 compared to 2015. Of a total of 4,157 fire accidents, 1,100 fires broke out in residential houses in 2016.
“Basically, it is a concept of conductivity. Metal will receive electromagnetic charge and it will generate electricity or it will heat up. For instance, we should not use anything made of metal inside the microwave, especially those that have sharp edges, such as spoons or forks, as they may create sparks because of the electricity,” said Wail Al Muherzi, founder of Aman Fire Safety, a fire safety consultancy and advisory firm in Oman
He added, “There are different types of ceramic. Ceramic in general is not advisable. For example, some have paintings around them, so they are not to be used inside the microwave. In fact, a lot of things are prohibited from being used inside a microwave, including plastics. We should not heat food wrapped in aluminium foil or plastics because they will either melt with the food or they will catch fire.”
Al Muherzi said that microwave ovens in general were not advisable because they generated radiation harmful to the human body. One should stay 15 feet away from the oven and should always keep the kids away from the microwave.
Dr A Basheer, Head of the Department of Internal Medicine and Diabetes from Badr Al Samaa Ruwi, said, “Metal vessels have a harmful nickel coating and other long-run toxic substances that can harm us. The public should avoid consumption of warm food from metal and plastic dishes, else they may face cancer of the urinary bladder and damage to kidneys and the nervous system.”
“Use of metal vessels in microwave ovens can burn and spoil the coil of the oven (Magnetron Tube). Even aluminium foil wrappers are not advisable in microwave ovens. What can be used are microwavable containers to heat food,” said Jerald Saldanha, an expat in Oman.
House fires have been on the rise since the summer began in Oman. On Monday, PACDA officials were called in to douse three fires in Seeb, Jalan Bani Bu Ali and Sur, before casualties occurred. On the same day, another PACDA team was called in to tackle a domestic blaze in Salalah. A day before, another house went up in flames in Mussanah, while on April 10, firefighters were required to respond to a fire in Al Mabella.