In Video: Al-Anba Tests Readiness with Mock Evacuation

Amir Zaki (Photography Team: Hani Al-Shammari, Farial Hammad, Ahmed Ali, Qasim Basha)

In a field exercise reflecting a strong commitment to enhancing security and safety procedures, Al-Anbaa newspaper conducted a surprise practical drill on Monday afternoon to simulate a fire and evacuate the newspaper building. The exercise was carried out in coordination with the General Fireforce, represented by the Shuwaikh Industrial Zone A Fire Station "B," with the aim of testing staff readiness to handle emergencies, measuring the efficiency of evacuation procedures, and assessing response speed to alarms.

The drill was executed according to a pre-prepared scenario, which included a simulated fire breaking out in one of the newspaper’s storage areas, followed by the sounding of alarm sirens to signal the start of the evacuation process. Al-Anbaa’s management took care to keep the timing and details of the drill confidential, without informing departments or sections in advance, to ensure an accurate measurement of staff reactions and their adherence to safety procedures.

Upon the sounding of the alarms, colleagues began evacuating the building through emergency exits and heading to assembly points, amidst a state of alert triggered by the surprise nature of the exercise. This was particularly notable as the drill was conducted at 4:00 PM, a time when a significant number of staff members are typically present in the newspaper building.

In a swift response, personnel from the Shuwaikh Industrial Zone A Fire Station arrived at the site and began executing their assigned tasks according to the prepared scenario, dealing with the simulated fire in a practical test of coordination and emergency response speed.

The exercise achieved its field objectives by testing response speed to alarms, the efficiency of emergency exit usage, and staff compliance with evacuation procedures, alongside measuring the arrival speed of firefighters and their handling of the report.

Following the conclusion of the drill, the newspaper’s management began compiling observations and evaluating various stages of implementation to benefit from the experience’s results and address any areas requiring improvement, thereby strengthening the security and safety system and raising the level of preparedness to handle any emergency.

The Al-Anbaa management expressed its appreciation for the fruitful cooperation with the General Fireforce, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Electricity, which sent technicians to inspect the electrical grid. It emphasized the importance of such drills in consolidating a culture of prevention and emergency preparedness, and in enhancing procedures to protect lives and property.

Appreciation for Al-Gharib, Al-Shamsan, and Shuwaikh Industrial Fireforce Personnel

The Al-Anbaa management expressed its deepest gratitude and appreciation to the General Fireforce for its cooperation in the success of the fire and evacuation drill. It specifically thanked Brigadier General Mohammed Al-Gharib, Director of Public Relations and Media at the Force, for his cooperation and support of initiatives aimed at enhancing safety and prevention cultures within institutions.

It also extended its thanks to Colonel Abbas Fadel Al-Shamsan, Head of the Shuwaikh Industrial Zone A Fire Station, as well as all officers, non-commissioned officers, and personnel who participated in the drill, for the professionalism, discipline, and swift response they demonstrated.

Exceptional Response from Interior Operations.. and a Police Patrol Sent to the Newspaper

The Ministry of Interior’s Operations Room recorded a rapid response to the report received regarding a fire at Al-Anbaa’s headquarters. It treated the report with the necessary seriousness, began monitoring the details, and verified the actual situation, without relying solely on the initial information received via the call. The monitoring continued until it became clear that the incident was a simulated fire and evacuation drill being conducted in coordination with the General Fireforce. Meanwhile, the Operations Room dispatched a security patrol to the newspaper’s headquarters to verify the situation on the ground and ensure the safety of those present.

The handling of the report reflected a high level of readiness and vigilance, with a strong commitment to monitoring emergency alerts and verifying them on the ground until their nature was clarified. Al-Anbaa management commended the operations room for its swift response, continuous follow-up on the report, and dispatch of a patrol unit to the site, while also appreciating the seriousness and dedication shown by Interior Ministry personnel in ensuring the safety of those present.

Al-Shuwaikh Industrial Fire Station Team “B” at the heart of the drill

Sincere thanks and appreciation are extended to the personnel of Al-Shuwaikh Industrial Fire Station “B” for their efforts in conducting the simulated evacuation. They are: Colonel Ahmed Jassim Al-Daioli, Captain Abdulaziz Abdullah Al-Siddiq, Captain Abdulrazzaq Ibrahim Al-Husseini, Captain Bandar Nawaf Al-Dhafiri, First Lieutenant Rashid Mohammed Al-Kandari, First Sergeant Yousif Abdulaziz Al-Ansari, First Sergeant Omar Mohammed Al-Harshani, First Sergeant Saad Ahmed Al-Azmi, First Sergeant Mohammed Naif Al-Shamari, Sergeant Turki Abdullah Al-Jaimaz, Sergeant Nasser Bader Hadi Al-Harbi, Corporal Rashid Fahad Al-Abd Al-Hadi, and Corporal Mohammed Abdulrahman Maki.

The drill’s secrecy “deceived” a colleague… who then reported the fire

Al-Anbaa staff faced an unannounced emergency test

Al-Anbaa management ensured that the timing and details of the drill were kept strictly confidential, without prior notification to departments or sections, with the aim of assessing employees’ ability to respond to an emergency realistically and without prior preparation.

The choice of 4:00 p.m. as the drill time added a practical dimension, given the noticeable number of colleagues present at that hour, allowing for a test of response speed to alarm sirens and compliance with evacuation routes.

The realism of the drill reached such a level that one colleague, unaware of the scenario, came to believe that a real fire had broken out in the building. Upon hearing the alarm sirens, he promptly contacted the Interior Ministry’s operations room to report the incident, out of concern for his colleagues’ safety.

His actions reflected the seriousness with which emergency alarms were treated and the lack of any dismissive attitude, while also demonstrating the success of the surprise element in simulating conditions that may accompany a real fire.