Sharjah, May 1 (Emirates 24x7): Sharjah civic and fire officials have yet to release an official statement on the cause of the fire that destroyed the 40-storied Al Tayer building in Al Nahda, Sharjah.
However, the early consensus among officials and residents is that a single cigarette butt thrown carelessly on to a pile of paper cartons on the first floor started the blaze.
“While only a detailed forensic report will confirm this, residents are convinced that a cigarette butt was thrown carelessly on to a pile of paper cartons kept on the first floor of the building.
“A similar fire in the Al Bakr Tower 4 in Sharjah was also caused by a carelessly thrown out cigarette butt that affected the lives of hundreds of residents,” one official said on the condition of anonymity .
If that is indeed proved correct, then it would be fair to say that a single cigarette butt destroyed hundreds of flats, displaced 2,500 residents and cost millions of dirhams in damages.
“It is unfortunate that such a silly act by a careless person has caused such huge damage,” said a resident who did not wish to reveal his name.
“It is pathetic... a cigarette butt causing millions of dirhams in losses, destruction of valuables and disruption of life,” fumed another resident.
“The fire alarm system in the tower used to ring whenever someone was smoking in the corridors. On Saturday it was ringing. Someone must have thrown a cigarette butt or was surely smoking,” said a resident, aware of the situation.
“Initially we ignored the alarm thinking it was a false one,” he added.
Meanwhile, most residents spent their second night out with friends, in hotel apartments or in a temporary tent erected by Red Crescent.
“I did not go to work today because I don’t have my clothes. My two children did not attend school because their books and uniforms are in vacated apartment,” said Mohammed Mozambil, a resident of the fire-affected portion of Al Tayer Tower.