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Warehouse reduced to ashes in Sharjah

SHARJAH — It seems fire accidents in Sharjah are never-ending, with yet another fire breaking out at 10am yesterday in a warehouse in the Sharjah Industrial Area No. 10, opposite a pharmaceutical distribution centre.

The flames destroyed all the contents of the warehouse which included tyres, wooden material and various other things. The huge flames which could not be controlled by the Sharjah Civil Defence units spread over to the neighbouring carpentry shop, car junk store and a labour camp in the vicinity.

During the fire-fighting operation, an officer from the Civil Defence suffered burns and was immediately rushed to Rashid Hospital in Dubai for treatment. However, his condition was reported to be normal and out of any danger.

Apart from this case, no other casualties among people of the warehouse and its affected neighbouring outlets were reported, but loss to properties was disclosed to be 100 per cent.

The fire was put out and controlled by fire-fighters from Sharjah, Ajman and Dubai in one and a half hours and the cooling operation took another one hour. The fire-fighting operation was supervised by Colonel Salih Al Mutawa, Director-General of Sharjah Police Department and Brigadier Abdullah Mubarak Al Dukhan, Director of Operation Room in Sharjah Police Department.

A source from the Civil Defence said since the stored items in the warehouse contained plastic material, the fighters were forced to use water and foam which helped a great deal in putting out the fire.

The Emergency Operation Officer placed fences in the place of the accident to help the fighters carry out their task.

The source disclosed that the extinguishers found in the warehouse were invalid and not functioning.

Brigadier Al Mutawa said that the wood, plastic and car tyres, considered flammable items, helped a great deal in increasing the flames and extending them to neighbouring buildings.

The forensic laboratory will investigate the cause of the fire and give a report soon to enhance awareness among the public as part of the fire protection plan for the future, he said, adding that he would contact the department concerned to remove the debris of the fire immediately after the completion of the cooling operation which will take a few hours during daytime.

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