Port Rashid was full to overflowing with cargo in 1972
Major import was foam bedding mattresses
Labourers stacked mattresses to shelter from the sun
Labourers hid and relaxed in these "shelters"
They also smoked cigarettes - hence a lot of local fires.
Image by Len Chapman
Dubai was not cash rich in 1972.
Oil money had yet to flow into the economy.
Each Emirate was responsible for its own public services
These included health, security and fire fighting.
Later these public services were unified under the Federal Government who provided funding.
But in 1972 Dubai Municipality had no money to purchase spare parts or buy new fire fighting equipment.
Solution was found - with fun and foam included!
Fighting Fires in Port Rashid
Fire Aftermath
Newly opened Port Rashid's Management did not want to operate their own Fire Brigade - that was not their business.
They wanted fire fighting "outsourced" to Dubai's Fire Brigade!
Dubai Municipality's lack of money and Dubai Fire Brigade's out of date equipment was standing in the way.
Modern fire fighting equipment was needed- lots of it!
1971: We called Dubai Fire Brigade to a ship on fire at Berth 15 Port Rashid.
Within minutes, their Fire Engines arrived, set up then - nothing happened!
None of the Fire Engines started. Firemen stood around aimlessly.
Smoke continued to billow from the burning ship.
I asked the Fire Chief what the problem was. He replied
"Fire Engine Pumps don't work. We need spare parts.
Fire Engines have been broken down for weeks.
I keep asking Municipality to buy spare parts but no one will give permission!"
Eventually Port Rashid and Dubai's Fire Brigade came together -a deal was struck. Port Rashid would buy Fire Fighting Equipment for Dubai's Fire Brigade - Fire Brigade would take responsibility for fighting Port Rashid's fires. Fire Chief was to list his fire fighting equipment requirements.
Fire Chief was like a child let loose in a Sweet Shop - he wanted everything!
He had a favourite - a High Expansion Foam Generator. "This is essential" he said.
NOTE: High Expansion Foam Generators make lots of foam quickly that can smother oil fires and fires in inaccessible areas such as mines, basements, tunnels, warehouses and maybe ships.
So the order was placed.
Months later the equipment arrived and handed over to Dubai Fire Brigade.
L to R: Al Maktoum Bridge Road, Clock Tower, Deira Fire Station.
Image by Tony White
Dubai's Fire Chief invited Port Rashid's Management to a full scale demonstration of his new fire fighting equipment at 3pm next day at Deira Fire Station. Deira Fire Station was located in Port Said Industrial Area adjacent to Al Maktoum Bridge Road and Dubai's Clock Tower.
Who would miss an opportunity to play with fire engines! Everyone went!
Dubai's Firemen demonstrated their new fire engines, power saws, breathing apparatus and all the other new "toys".
HEF Generator was set up on the large expanse of sand outside Deira Fire Station.
Fire Chief excitedly pressed the start button. Huge volumes of foam immediately spewed out from the machine, rapidly spreading across the sand. Mass foam started heading towards the Fire Station. The ever increasing volume of foam found its way into the Fire Station until it hit the back wall. Unable to travel horizontally, the foam started to expand vertically engulfing the new Fire Engines. Firemen started running into the Fire Station and into this mass of foam. They reappeared grinning then disappeared once again into the foam. Occasionally an arm waved out of the foam. Dubai's Firemen discovered Foam was fun!
Fire Chief decided enough was enough and pressed the stop button.
Now there was a mass blanket of foam in and around Deira Fire Station.
Then the wind changed direction!
Slowly the Mass Foam Blanket changed direction too
It moved away from Deira Fire Station, across the sand area and on to Al Maktoum Bridge Road.
Dubai's Drivers expect the unexpected
None expected to encounter a metre deep blanket of white high expansion foam blocking the road.