Sharjah: The area where the fire broke out on Tuesday at National Paints is still cordoned off to the public as Civil Defence teams conduct the cooling off process.
Colonel Wahid Al Sarkal, Director General at Sharjah Civil Defence, told Gulf News that the cooling process is expected to be completed by today.
"We are cooperating with all the Civil Defence stations in Sharjah, and each station has been designated to conduct the cooling process in six hour shifts each. The areas affected will be handed back to the owners by Saturday, when all danger is out of the way." Neighbouring factories and workshops had already opened for work yesterday morning, and evacuated residents also returned to their homes by Tuesday evening.
Roads that were earlier closed were open by Tuesday night and traffic was smooth along Emirates Road yesterday morning.
The fire that broke out at National Paints completely gutted four warehouses belonging to the company, and a committee has already been formed to determine the cause of the fire.
The fire that broke out on Tuesday is the largest the emirate has witnessed and needed up to 254 fire fighters to put it out.
A thick cloak of smog could be seen all around National Paints, which is a result of the cooling process, in order to prevent another fire breaking up at the factory due to the inflammable materials at the factory. The foams used in the process also caused a stench and could be smelt all across the neighbourhood.
"The two firemen who were injured in the fire are now fine, and we appreciate their role to help put out the fire," said Col Al Sarkal.
