Dubai Creek dhow fire forces evacuation of dozens of boats

Captain and crew arrested for negligence after dhow fire spreads and forces the evacuation of more than 50 boats from Dubai Creek.

Captain and crew arrested for negligence after dhow fire spreads and forces the evacuation of more than 50 boats from Dubai Creek.

DUBAI// A fire which this morning engulfed two dhows and forced the evacuation of more than 50 boats from Dubai Creek has resulted in the arrests of a captain and crew.

The fire, which broke out around 9am, was caused when a spark from an electrical water pump ignited more than 40 barrels of diesel as the crew attempted to pump water from their dhow.

Police said no-one was injured in the blaze, which was visible from as far as Oud Metha and also forced the closure of a nearby roads due to thick smoke.

Specialist clean-up teams are now working at the site, near Dubai Chamber of Commerce, after a small quantity of oil spilled in the water.

Lt Col Abdullah Al Mazyoud, the director of the Port police station, said the captain of a dhow on which the fire started and several crew had been arrested and referred to the public prosecution for damaging public and private properties due to negligence.

Lt Coil Al Mazyoud said the water pump should hever have been started so close to a fuel storage area.

After engulfing the first dhow, the fire then spread to another dhow and also to goods stored on the creekside.  The first dhow has been completely destroyed.

Witnesses told The National this morning that the fire was visible from Oud Metha and Karama.

The fire is the second this year on Dubai Creek. In March, a fire gutted two vessels, killing one man and injuring four others.