Negligence blamed for fire

The fire that gutted the Oasis Centre on Shaikh Zayed Road early yesterday was caused by negligence of safety measures, police said.

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He said the blaze started when workers of a maintenance company contracted by the Oasis Centre were installing thermal insulation in the ceiling.

The workers were using gas cylinders and at one point sparks flew, igniting the thermal insulation.

The fire was caused by workers' negligence regarding safety and precautionary measures and the need to secure the site before starting work.

"It was not vandalism as is being spread by many people, who love circulating rumours to spark fear among the people," Al Mazeina said.

The workers tried to contain the fire, but failed because the blaze was massive. An investigation is underway, and 10 workers are being questioned, he said.

No deaths or major injuries were reported, although all the animals in the centre's pet shop were killed, sources said.

The losses, expected to be in the millions, have yet to be estimated.

Colonel Rashid Al Matroushi, head of Dubai Civil Defence, said the Operations Room received a call at 1am. All Civil Defence units were alerted, and most on the south side responded immediately.

Al Matroushi said it was not clear whether the Oasis Centre had a fire alarm system connected to the Operations Room.

Captain Hussain Al Rahoumi from Dubai Police said the centre's sprinkler system had falso failed to work. "It seems it didn't activate itself, which will be investigated," he said. "It could have been turned off because of the maintenance works".

A statement from the Landmark Group in Dubai, which owns the centre, said there were no human casualties.

Vipen Sethi, Group Director of Finance for the Landmark Group, said millions had been invested in renovating the Oasis Centre and over 90 per cent of the four-month refurbishment was complete.

The mall was to be ready for its re-launch on Sep-tember 21 with its new façade.

With additional inputs from Sunita Menon, Bassam Za'za' and Mohammad Shamseddine