Off-duty CDD officer saves eight children from fire

AMMAN — Although Civil Defence Department (CDD) officer Othman Dheimesh was on leave last Thursday, that did not stop him from coming to the aid of those in need.

When Dheimesh was on his way to meet with a friend in Kufor Al Maa in Irbid Governorate, he noticed a crowd gathered near the road and heard a man shouting: “My children, My children!”. 

The CDD officer decided to pull over and head to the location to see what was going on. 

“There were eight children trapped in a fire that broke out due to a gas leak inside their house,” Dheimesh told The Jordan Times over the phone on Tuesday. 

The officer said that although he was wearing sports clothes and did not have the necessary firefighting attire and equipment, he decided to enter the house and help the children. 

“I carried four children in two trips and it took me only around three minutes. No one there dared to go in and everyone was watching. Later, CDD personnel came to extinguish the fire,” he added. 

On Tuesday, Dheimesh said CDD Director Lt. Gen. Talal Kofahi rewarded him for his action. 

In a statement sent to The Jordan Times, Kofahi highlighted the importance of CDD personnel’s humanitarian role in protecting people’s lives. 

“I was so happy that my work was appreciated,” Dheimesh said.