DUBAI // An overheated exhaust fan caused a fire in Al Quoz last Saturday that destroyed six warehouses, police said yesterday.
The fire spread rapidly because of improperly stored goods, including flammable materials, according to a report put together by investigators.
Major Gen Khamis al Mazeina of Dubai Police said the fan caught fire inside a warehouse in which such materials as tiles, paint and cabinets were stored.
The flames quickly spread to other flammable materials, such as boxes, scattered throughout the six linked warehouses which belonged to the Salah General Trading and Element Middle East companies.
Major Gen Mazeina said police had ruled out the possibility that the fire was started deliberately. Several warehouse workers and witnesses had been questioned by police, but were released without charge, he said.
Hundreds of residents and workers were forced to leave their homes and businesses after the fire broke out at a warehouse last Saturday afternoon.
Mohammed Abu Aitah, a fire specialist in the Dubai Police Criminal Investigation Department, said it was determined that the fan's motor had overheated, sparking the fire. He also said a flammable material used in the warehouses' ceilings made the fire spread rapidly.
"The exhaust fan was taken for testing at the lab and it was determined that the temperature of the fan began to increase rapidly, which led to the burning of its metal propellers. The fire then extended to the neighbouring area which contained many storage boxes. All the warehouses contained flammable materials," he said.
"Doorless openings" between the warehouses had also contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze, he added.
As they fought the blaze on Saturday, firemen ran out of water for more than 45 minutes until a water truck from Ajman and equipment from Abu Dhabi were brought in. It took three hours to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported.
rabubaker@thenational.ae
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