Fire Drill Gone Awry Injures Seven Neighbors

JIZAN, 30 June 2006 — Firefighters practicing a fire-rescue operation got an opportunity to try out their skills for real, the Okaz daily reported yesterday. Seven family members were seriously wounded, including two children, when their building — located next door to the fire drill — caught fire. Apparently the flames from the controlled fire started by the firefighters, went out of control and spread to the nearby residential building. Had the firefighters abided by proper safety regulations, the tragedy could have been averted.