Stay or run? Residents in Dubai tower see smoke, hear no alarm

There was no fire alarm, no evacuation plan and initially, no authorities to deal with what was a smoke-filled Bahar 6 tower at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), on Saturday (July 6) evening.

Residents of the building took it upon themselves to decide the safest option for them.

Some evacuated, some stayed out, and some went to investigate.

Dubai Civil Defence could not confirm a fire in the popular community, which indicates that it was "nothing serious", a Civil Defence spokesperson told this website.

However, for one resident living on the 7th floor of the high rise, who asks not to be named, it was a very serious situation.

"I was at home when suddenly the smell of smoke started coming from the AC. The smell was very strong, not only inside the apartment, but throughout the whole building."

It was alarming enough for this resident to make her way downstairs and see where the smell was coming from.

To her surprise, the elevators were working and there was no alarm.

She evacuated to the nearest coffee shop with her child. She was not the only person alarmed.

"There were about 20-30 people downstairs, inquiring about the smell. Security told us there is no fire, and nothing to worry about.

Some people did not believe the security guard and went to take a look at the garbage, to find out it was on fire. Security then claimed that somebody was burning the garbage deliberately, and later on said it was caused by a cigarette butt."

This reporter verified that nothing was reported in the logbook at the security desk of Bahar 6, nor did the security guard in place report a fire.

"The worst part is that nobody called Civil Defence or the police. Security kept on trying to convince us that there was nothing to worry about. Eventually I took the phone of the security and called Civil Defence," said one resident.

The fire may have been harmless, but that is not enough said for the residents.

"Most of us were angry, not scared. The fire alarm goes off all the time as a false alarm, and when there is really something wrong there is no fire alarm," one resident added.

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