Bold rescue at Torch Tower

THINGS UNDER CONTROL: Officials supervising rescue operations at the Torch Tower

It's not easy for people who have not been in a burning building - corridors filling with smoke - to empathise with people who have been evacuated from an inferno, smoke stinging the eyes.
Dubai, in its most testing moments, shows the most remarkable spirit. Just ask the stunned residents of Torch Tower who got away unscathed - again. No casualties in the early Friday morning blaze in Dubai Marina. That, in itself, deemed a miracle. Anyone who witnessed the two-hour-long inferno will agree.
The Civil Defence teams were brought in promptly. They controlled the fire and finally extinguished it. No small feat for an 86-storey building that is believed to be the 5th tallest residential skyscraper in the world. Firefighters reached the scene at 12.49am, after being alerted at 12.45am.
The evacuation was carried out in an orderly manner. No stampedes, no screams. The overriding sentiment of the residents was that discomfort is a small price to pay for your life being spared. "There's a lot to be grateful for," a relieved resident of The Torch told Khaleej Times while nursing a litre of cold water.
The compassionate nature of expats was on display as neighbours in the Dubai area offered their homes to affected Torch Tower residents. British-Egyptian expat Ahmed Ali posted in the morning on his Facebook account: "If you know anyone affected by this fire and is in need of assistance or a place to stay then please let me know."
Put yourself in the situation. You're in your slippers, sleepy eyes, your passport is inside the flat, your phone is not charged, wallet not on you, and you're psychologically suddenly thirsty and coughing, the smell of burning plastic catching your throat. And you have to leave at once, because that siren and people talking in high tones all indicate that your home is being licked by the flames.
Building residents, while worried and inconvenienced for the night - and shocked that this was the second fire (after the February 2015 blaze) in the same tower, expressed their relief and gratitude at the fine job and quick rescue, and the warming spirit of people ready to help strangers, furnish them with anything to make the time easier to bear, even at that hour. Khaleej Times spotted a handful of volunteers distributing chilled bottles of water to residents stranded in the heat. Residents took refuge in the air-conditioned corridor next to the Marina Spinney's supermarket where they were able to charge their phones and sit down to rest for a bit.
Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was at the scene with Major General Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director General of Civil Defense in Dubai and supported all teams while the tower was being evacuated.
Ambulances were on the site in record time, and the firemen carried out a successful rescue operation. All residents were evacuated, and accommodated in three nearby hotels. Even the pets were safely gotten out of the burning building.
The cause of the fire is being looked into. Investigations haven't yet concluded. On Friday afternoon, Dubai Police even reopened roads leading to the Torch Tower. Residents were allowed to return to collect their belongings.
On early Friday morning, at around 3am, tired residents were seen waiting outside, making calls and arrangements to stay the night with friends in other buildings.
Major General Abdullah Al Marri, Commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, said firefighters, rescuers and ambulance team helped put out the fire quickly and ensured safety of residents and their pets. The teams carried out inspections in 597 apartments and evacuated 475 people who were sheltered in three nearby hotels.
Firefighting squads from six civil defense stations had been deployed to bring the fire under control and ensure safety of residents, including Al Marsa station, UAE Martyrs station, Al Quoz, Al Rashidiya, Al Barsha and Port Saeed stations besides the marine rescue team.
- reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Dubai