Two separate fires in the Gulf on Monday 7th September 2015, one in an industrial complex involving a bakery in Sharjah, and the second in an apartment in Dubai, tragically claimed five lives.
Firefighters from Sharjah Civil Defence Headquarters as well as from Samnan, Saja’a and Muweilah Fire Stations were called to a fire in bakery in Sharjah Industrial No 10 Area at 0345 hrs to find a severe fire in progress. Workers in nearby premises were evacuated to safety as the fire rapidly spread.
Despite the best efforts of the Civil Defence firefighting teams, the fire gutted a bakery, a perfume warehouse, four stores, a grocery, and also destroyed 13 vehicles before coming under control.
Brigadier Abdullah Al Suwaidi, Director-General of Sharjah Civil Defence said, “The exact cause of the fire has not yet been established until we carry out an investigation. The three dead bakery workers were Afghans and their ages ranged between 29 and 40.” He continued:
“They were violating safety regulations and it is suspected that the workers may have been using a portion of the bakery as a sleeping and living area at the time of their deaths.”
Sharjah Police are also investigating the incident.
In the outbreak in Dubai two persons died and one was seriously injured when they jumped off the balcony of their burning third-floor apartment in their shared accommodation in International City.
Brigadier Ahmad Obaid Al Sayegh, Assistant to the Director of Dubai Civil Defence and Rescue, said the overcrowded one-bedroom apartment that was completely gutted by the fire was being shared by 22 people; 10 in the living room and 12 in the bedroom.
The Operations Room at Dubai Civil Defence received a call at 2142 hrs on Monday evening to a fire in a flat in the English Cluster at International City. Units from Al Rashidiya Civil Defence Fire Station responded rapidly to the scene to find that three of the tenants had jumped off the balcony due to the thick smoke. Two died instantly and one sustained severe injuries and was taken to the hospital.
Brigadier Al Sayegh said the teams rescued another seven tenants who were trapped in the balcony of the apartment. The fire, which started in the kitchen, spread through the mattresses the tenants used to sleep on, which covered the apartment’s floor and contributed to the severe fire damage in the entire flat.
The Brigadier warned against overcrowding in apartments, which is not only against the rules, but can be dangerous as this tragic incident clearly demonstrated.
