Hundreds displaced after Sharjah fire

A major fire that began in a wooden furniture warehouse and factory in the Sharjah Industrial Area 10, quickly spread to adjacent labour camps from where several hundred workers were evacuated to safety on Friday afternoon.

Civil Defence and fire teams extinguished the fire after battling it for hours and prevented it from spreading.

Camp residents who evacuated were seen desperately looking for alternative accommodation before breaking their Ramadan fast.

Speaking to Emirates 24|7, several workers said the fire caused them severe hardship and they had to rush out without taking any valuables or even clothes.

Some joined hands and removed air conditioners, cooking gas cylinders, beds, television sets, utensils and other such valuables before the fire reached their labour camps.

“It started from the rear side of a wooden packaging company and spread very fast to labour camps located close by.

“Many of the workers who were taking rest were alerted about the fire and others, rushing out in panic, alerted them to follow suit,” said Mohammed, a Bangladeshi electrician who shared a camp with 25 other workers from a labour supply company.

The fire which started after 1.30pm on Friday lasted for a few hours.

A number of trucks, trailers, other heavy vehicles are parked in the area and drivers removed their vehicles fearing the worst.

“The fire has disrupted some of my regular customers and now they are trying to find alternative housing. Some of them have lost their food stuff stored for iftar,” said an employee of Dhaka Grocery, located in the neighbourhood.

“We are lucky that the fire did not reach here,” added another resident.

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