Fire guts Sharjah scrap yard

Sharjah: A massive fire raged through a scrapyard in Al Saja’a industrial area in Sharjah on Monday, sending a plume of thick black smoke around Sharjah-Al Dhaid Road.

Colonel Sami Khamis Al Naqbi, Director-General of Sharjah Civil Defence, said no injuries were reported in the blaze that started at around 11.49am. But the site — which contained scrap diesel barrels and plastic — was completely gutted.

Police sealed off roads leading to the site and only emergency vehicles were allowed to pass through.

Firefighters from Civil Defence headquarters, Saja’a, Samnan, Muwaileh and Al Himryah helped in the operation.

Saj’a area on Sharjah-Dhaid Road is also close to a landfill and a recycling facility. No fatalities or injuries were reported.

Firefighters came in on time and managed to contain the flames in two hours.

Workers in nearby premises were evacuated as thick black smoke was seen billowing from several kilometres away.

Firefighters also rescued the animals found at the site close to the fire.

Col. Al Naqbi said that a fire engine was dispatched as soon as the blaze was reported.

Workers moved to a safer ground and continued to wait as teams from the Civil Defence and Sharjah Police launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Col. Al Naqbi said the site would be handed over to forensic laboratory experts to determine the cause of the blaze.