29 Jan Sharjah apartment fire calls for robust building safety measures
A Sharjah apartment fire claimed the lives of two individuals, prompting calls for further building safety measures.
After a fire was reported in Sharjah during the early hours of January 25, firefighters in the area arrived promptly and managed to contain the blaze within two minutes.
However, the cause of the fire remains unknown, and it is under the charge of a forensic team to investigate further.
According to a report by Gulf News, authorities controlled the fire within two minutes of their arrival, which shows the importance of fast emergency responses.
However, two people were fatally overcome by suffocation as a result of the apartment fire.
Brigadier Sami Khamis Al Naqbi, Director-General of Sharjah Civil Defence, went on to report that swift action was taken to evacuate other tenants from the building and that the area had been cordoned off by the police force.
The National Ambulance team and the Sharjah Social Services Department – Child and Family Protection Centre quickly attended the site to assist those who had been saved from the fire.
The three-story building was then sealed for further assessments as the investigation continues.
It is thought that the fire was able to spread quickly from a third-floor apartment, and smoke saturated the entire structure which highlights the need for robust building safety measures for future prevention.