Video: Firefighters control boat blaze in Sharjah, no casualties

Billowing dark smoke could be seen from the fire location

Sharjah Civil Defense firefighters managed to control a huge fire that erupted in a dhow anchored at Sharjah Creek near Khalid port.
Col. Sami Al Naqbi Director General of Sharjah Civil Defense confirmed that no causalities have been reported in the accident.
He added Shajrah Civil Defense received information about a fire erupting in a wooden boat anchored at Sharjah Creek at 11.30am. The team of firefighters from various stations were dispatched immediately. The dhow was completely gutted by fire due to strong winds. The team reached the location in five minutes and took 30 minutes to contain the fire and conduct the cooling operation.
The site has been already handed over to the forensic expert of Sharjah Police to investigate the cause of the fire.
This the second fire accident to occur at the same site. The usual cause of fire is the crew unloading the goods and storing the flammable materials near the cooking area or under the sun. 
The Civil Defense in coordination with the Sharjah police will study the causes of the fire in these boats and carry out awareness among the crew members of all ships anchored at Khalid port to prevent fire accidents.
"We will train them to use the extinguisher and fighting equipment to douse the fire until the fire brigade arrives at the site in order to reduce the loss of life and property," Col. Sami Al Naqbi noted.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah