TIMELINE — Recent major fire incidents in UAE
28.3.2016
A huge fire guts at least two buildings in the Ajman One residential cluster of 12 towers close to the border with Sharjah. The fire mainly damages Ajman Tower 1.
31.12.2015
A massive fire breaks out in the Address Downtown Hotel in Dubai, a few hours before the spectacular New Year fireworks are to begin at midnight. The fire starts on the 20th floor of the hotel from the outside and spreads to the upper storeys. Firefighting teams manage to control 80 per cent of the fire in a record time by 10.30pm to ensure the New Year party continues.
1.10.2015
A massive fire erupts in Al Nasser Tower located on King Faisal Street in Sharjah. Around 250 families are evacuated from the 32-storey building consisting of 26 residential floors and six levels of car parking.
21.2.2015
A fire erupts in the 86-storey The Torch tower, at Dubai Marina. The fire start on the 52nd floor and spreads to the floors above. The 352-metre Torch was the world’s tallest residential building when it opened in 2011. There are no serious injuries or casualties reported.
7.8.2014
Three people and two firemen are injured in a fire that breaks out on the 17th floor of an Electra Street building in Abu Dhabi.
7.5.2013
Three people die and eight others suffer minor injuries when a fire breaks out in an Airport Road building in Abu Dhabi. The fire breaks out on the third floor of a nine-storey building.
22.4.2013
A blaze destroys 10 apartments of Hafeet Tower 2 in Sharjah. Residents of the tower in Sharjah’s Al Taawun area are evacuated when a fire breaks out on the 20th floor.
12.3.2013
A blaze guts 10 apartments on the first floor of a 10-storey building Al Qasimiya area in Sharjah. An estimated 70 families are evacuated from the burning building. The fire is believed to have started in an apartment on the first floor.
18.11.2012
A fire broke out in Tamweel Tower in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) in Dubai. The fire starts on the recreational area on the 34th floor where a pool, jacuzzi, gym and the air conditioning plant are located. Strong winds reportedly fanned the massive fire.
6.10.2012
A fire in the 13-storey Saif Belhasa building in Tecom, Dubai injures two people and damages at least nine floors. Two infants are also treated for smoke inhalation and at least seven families are left homeless. The fire reportedly started on the fourth floor and damages at least nine floors, particularly the 07-series flats.
28.4.2012
Hundreds of families are displaced after a massive fire breaks out in the 40-storey Al Tayer Tower near Al Nahda park in Sharjah. Authorities close down the tower, which has 408 flats and a six-level parking, for safety reasons. The fire starts on the first floor and rapidly spreads to the higher floors. A total of 102 flats are damaged by the fire.
25.1.2012
A spectacular wall of flames ravages Al Baker Tower 4, a 25-storey residential building in Al Taawun area, Sharjah, leaving 125 families homeless. The weather and wind speed are factors that cause the fire to spread quickly to the other floors in the building, as well as the flammable materials used in the building’s exterior.
— Compiled by Gulf News Archives
