Huge blaze damages building in Al Ain

Al Ain: A massive fire destroyed a cluster of shops in a downtown building on Friday as firefighters fought for more than 10 hours to control it.

The building, housing shops and flats, has been evacuated. The fire reportedly started early yesterday morning from a warehouse in the basement of the Khaja Stores near Murabbah Roundabout.

Firefighters were still working at the site yesterday afternoon and a municipal team was called to pump out the accumulated water in the basement. Nobody has been reported as hurt in the incident but huge material damage has been caused.

Iffat Khan, a tenant in the building, said the fire was first noticed at around 4.00am by the watchman and the police and fire brigade were informed immediately. "People living the building have been evacuated and given temporary accommodations by the UAE Red Crescent," she said.

Thick, black clouds of smoke rose from the building as police patrols cordoned off the area. Traffic, which is already affected by a road construction project, was blocked for several hours on Shaikh Zayed Road, popularly known as the Main Street.

The wooden, plastic, perfume, and other material stored in the warehouse caused problems by catching fire repeatedly. Firefighters used water initially but later used special fire-extinguishing foam to put the fire out.

The smoke travelled through the air-conditioning ducts, reaching different parts of the five-story building, said Ahmad Kabeer, another eyewitness, adding that the heat was so intense it melted refrigerators and other items.

"When the smoke threatened the lives of the people, the police and emergency service officials ordered an evacuation," he said. The building was housing a popular herb store, pharmacy, clinic, perfumery shop, and many other shops and residences.

An official of the emergency response unit of the police said the fire was apparently caused by some electrical short circuit. "A thorough investigation would, however, be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of the fire," he said.

Murtaza Ali, a resident of the area, said the fire was a huge threat to lives and property in the very heart of the city. "I am surprised on the negligence of the authorities who are permitting warehouses in a residential building," he said.

Authorities blamed

He said it is time for the civic administration to review its policy and stop giving permission for offices and warehouses to set up their premise in residential buildings.

He added that landlords have been renting apartments to commercial entities such as beauty salons, consultancy and engineering offices even on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors of buildings, completely ignoring the families living on the same floors.

The city, said a number of residents, has not yet developed the culture of separate offices and residential buildings.