Dubai Zen Tower blaze: Cause of fire revealed

Dubai Civil Defence say blaze began in a kitchen of a ground floor business, spurred on by a unspecified flammable substance

<p>Damage to Zen Tower after the fire was put out. Courtesy Ezio&nbsp;Patrizi,</p>

Residents save their pets from the burning Zen Tower. Leslie Pableo for The National

Aftermath of the fire at Zen Tower in Dubai Marina. Leslie Pableo for The National

A car damaged from the burning Zen Tower. Leslie Pableo for The National

The fire at Zen Tower in Dubai Marina. Leslie Pableo for The National

Residence taking refuge at the next building in Dubai Marina. Leslie Pableo for The National

A resident from the burning Zen Tower takes care of his dog. Leslie Pableo for The National

A resident giving food to the a civil defence officer during the aftermath of the fire. Leslie Pableo for The National

Tourists in one of the hotels in Dubai Marina with their luggage try to find a cab as police block the area around the burning building. Leslie Pableo for The National

The fire is put out at Zen Tower. Leslie Pableo for The National

<p>A close-up of the fire at Zen Tower. Courtesy Lubna Nassor

<p>Emergency services work to put out the fire at Zen Tower in Dubai Marina. 13 May 2018.&nbsp;Leslie Pableo for The National</p>

<p>Civil Defence were quickly on the scene to attend to the fire at Zen Tower. Ashleigh Stewart / The National</p>

<p>Emergency services work to put out the fire at Zen Tower in Dubai Marina. 13 May 2018.&nbsp;Leslie Pableo for The National</p>

<p>Emergency services work to put out the fire at Zen Tower in Dubai Marina. 13 May 2018. Leslie Pableo for The National

A fire that forced more than 100 residents to flee a Dubai Marina tower and left the building badly damaged began in the kitchen of a business on the ground floor, investigators believe.

Fire and rescue chief Brigadier Rashid Khalifa Buflasa said an unspecified flammable substance caught alight and quickly spread to the rest of Zen Tower.

The first five floors appeared to suffer the most damage, though the flames reached the upper floors on the morning of May 13.

There are several businesses and restaurants located on the ground floor and the officer said he could not state which it was by name at this stage.

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Investigations are continuing and a formal cause will be released at a later date.

“High winds helped the fire to spread quickly,” he added.

Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed, head of fire investigation at Dubai Police's forensics department, said officers are looking into whether the blaze was caused by "carelessness".

Dozens of families have stayed in hotels and with friends since the fire. Some are still to learn the condition of their apartments and fear the worst given the blaze cracked most of the windows, leading to smoke pouring in.

Speaking at the scene last week, Egyptian Ahmed Mostafa told The National that he saw flames rising from the base of the building.

"Suddenly the alarm was on, and when I went to the kitchen I saw the fire from the window, from outside so I ran down the stairs.

"When I was outside the main door I saw the smoke coming out of the lobby.

"I only worry about my passport, that's it - other than that I'm fine. Thank God."