Arab woman, 26, burnt to death while cooking

Ras Al Khaimah - She was cooking lunch in their kitchen home when the fire erupted, mostly due to gas leak.

A 26-year-old expatriate woman, Arab, succumbed to fatal injuries and burns all over her body after her clothes caught fire while cooking food at home in Ras Al Khaimah.
The father of the deceased said his daughter was cooking lunch in their kitchen when the fire erupted, mostly due to gas leak. "She started screaming and running that my son rushed to her for help, but the flames spread to his own clothes, and he received several burns."
The shocked father said the mishap took place during the Friday Prayer as he was at the mosque listening to the sermon. "When returning home I was knocked for six to see an ambulance in front of my house and later discovered what has happened."
The panicked father rushed to the house to find both his daughter and son seriously burnt due to the blaze. "My daughter, who received gruesome injuries and burns, and my son, who sustained moderate burns, were rushed to the Saqr hospital for treatment and medical care."
However, the daughter succumbed to the fatal burns she received. "Though she was admitted to the intensive care unit in a record time, she was declared dead soon."
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Dr Yousif El Tayeb, an occupational health, safety, environment expert and professional, told Khaleej Times that leaving cooking unattended is one of the main reasons behind home fires. "Overheated food can burn; superheated cooking oil will vaporise and catch fire easily."
Boiling liquid can spill over and extinguish the flame of the stove and hence result in gas leaking into the atmosphere, he added. "Grease can also catch fire easily, and has to be frequently removed from all surfaces possible."
Combustible materials, including plastic and cloth, should never be placed too close to the stove or on top of cooking utensils, he warned. "They can catch fire easily."
When there is fire, it is most important to stay calm. If the fire is confined in the frying pan, it can be easily put out by covering it with a lid, or a fire blanket, he added.
"Small fire on other surfaces can also be extinguished by beating it with a fire blanket or other appropriate materials such as a thick piece of cloth. But, never splash water onto oil fire, as this will cause the fire to spread further because oil is lighter than water and hence will float and spread."
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When the blaze is big or out of control, evacuation to a safe place outside the building with the doors of the kitchen and the apartment closed behind is highly advised. "By closing those doors, the spread of the fire and smoke can be delayed significantly."
Activating the fire alarm is very important to alert all residents for evacuation, he said. "The fire alarm signal will at the same time alert the Civil Defence Department for emergency responses."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• Ras Al Khaimah