Khalid Al-Jabari Okaz/Saudi Gazette MADINAH — The recent fire at a house in Al-Anbariah neighborhood in Madinah in which seven children of a family died of smoke inhalation brings to mind an accident that took place three years ago. That incident would have been a total disaster were it not for the courage, heroism and audacity of an elderly woman who sacrificed herself for the sake of her children as well as others. The elderly woman, Bibi Zahra, was able to save 30 women and children of her own extended family after a fire broke out at the family house in the Al-Quba area of the holy city. Sadly, just after completing her mission, Bibi Zahra collapsed in the flames in one of the rooms after suffering from smoke inhalation. The house of Afghan national Muhammad Alem was bustling with life that evening. Altogether 30 members of Alem's family, including his sons, their wives and grandchildren had gathered for the dinner. All of a sudden, a fire broke out in the building due to an electric short circuit and in the ensuing flames the family began a mad dash to find a way out. One girl jumped out of a stairwell window overlooking the road and survived her fall with minor bruises. Inside the building, children continued to scream as smoke began to spread everywhere. The elderly Bibi Zahra took charge and began to guide the younger ones down to safety before returning to the upper floors to check for any remaining family members trapped inside. As Bibi Zahra entered the last room, the ceiling collapsed in a flaming blaze and her life was silenced forever. With tears welling his eyes, Abdullah Alem recalled the heroics of his stepmother adding that she sacrificed herself for the whole family and that they could do nothing except praying for her. “We lived as a monolithic family, my wife, my daughter and me as well as my father, his wife Bibi Zahra (may God rest her soul in peace), my mother and the wives of my three brothers,” said Abdullah Alem, one of the woman's sons. Col. Ali Al-Otaibi, Director of Civil Defense in Madinah, pointed out that 70 percent of fire incidents in the region result from electric short circuits. It is primarily due to using poor appliances or due to the fact that the workers who installed the electrical wiring were not trained, he said.
