Saudi Gazette

ARAFAT — Fire-proof tents with advanced technology have been installed in Arafat for the first time, according to Col. Saad Al-Rabi’ee, Civil Defense.

Preventive supervision officers, field inspection officers, and officers on motorbikes were dispatched to Arafat few months ago to supervise the process of installing the tents and ensure that the tents had met all safety requirements. Those officers were accompanied by Saudi Electricity Co. senior technicians who supervised the process.

In Arafat, there are 1,200 fire hydrants covering the area, which can be used to deal with any fire, God forbid, he said. There are 12 control towers equipped with advanced technology, which can detect any suspicious activity and any fire and dispatch special teams immediately to the site.

“Gas cylinders are prohibited in all tents and government facilities in the holy sites. Violations will be dealt with sternly as the use of gas can jeopardize the safety of all pilgrims,” he said.

Civil Defense has devised special plans to ensure maximum safety of pilgrims in Arafat. Security officers and Civil Defense teams will be on full alert and remain so until the pilgrims leave Arafat and head for Muzdalifah.

Civil Defense officers ran intensive inspection visits to all tents before the arrival of pilgrims and notified tawafah establishment of any minor violations.

“We gave the establishments short notices to fix all minor violations and they did,” he said.