Dubai fire crews tackle blaze in residential building

No injuries have been reported after the incident in Barsha 1

Fire crews come to the aid of tenants stuck in the blaze-hit building Photo: Roberto Fortuno

A residential building in Dubai was evacuated on Sunday after a fire broke out.

Civil Defence teams were called to the scene in Barsha 1 at 9.35am.

Crews on ladders hosed down balconies on the mid-rise Al Barakat tower, which is located in the same district as Mall of the Emirates.

An official said the fire started in an apartment and that no injuries were reported.

“The residents were evacuated safely from the building and the fire brought under control at 10.20am,” a Dubai Civil Defence representative said.

“No injuries were reported and the field commander said there was cooling process until 11.57am.”

An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the fire.

'Scary moment'

Roberto Fortuno, a chef who lives in the apartment complex opposite the building, said fire crews moved quickly to rescue tenants trapped on higher floors of the building.

“It was around 9:30am when I heard people shouting. I saw thick black smoke coming from the building in front of mine. It was scary,” the 43-year-old said.

“The fire was in the sixth floor and then moved to the seventh and eighth floors.”

Mr Fortuno said there was a group of people trapped in the balcony of the sixth floor who couldn’t make their way out due to the smoke.

“Firefighters arrived quickly and managed to rescue them. The residents were confused and in panic because of the smoke,” he said.