SHARJAH // Civil Defence officers have started inspecting older markets to ensure they meet fire safety standards.
The checks have targeted historic markets that are difficult to renovate, including the Old Souq and markets in Al Rowl, Al Aarsa and Al Ghuwair.
Al Ittihad, the Arabic-language sister paper of The National, reported that market traders had told inspectors that they were committed to fire safety, particularly regarding the storage of flammable goods and in electrical connections. The traders insisted they would not make use of low-quality materials that could cause fires.
Abdullah Mohammed, an Old Souq shopkeeper, said that he was keen on ensuring cleanliness and safety, especially as some shops sold highly flammable materials, such as textiles and tapestries.
The inspections came a day after fire destroyed part of the Friday Market in Fujairah.
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