Downtown Dubai tower fire: probe begins

  DUBAI – Authorities have begun an investigation into the cause of a fire that damaged a building under construction in Downtown Dubai on Sunday (April 2). The fire broke out in The Address Residence Fountain Views near the Burj Khalifa, according to the Dubai Media Office. The Emaar-owned three 60-storey tower complex was due to be completed in April 2018. A Dubai Civil Defence official said that the fire started on the fifth floor car park and spread to upper floors of the tower. The Dubai Police and Dubai Civil Defence workers said that four workers trapped in the building were rescued. No one was reported hurt or injured. Witnesses told Expatmedia.net that the blaze began at around 5:30 a.m. and affected several upper floors of the tower. Thick plumes of smoke could be seen billowing over the Dubai Mall. The Dubai Civil Defence said that the fire was brought under control at around 8:40 a.m. Cooling operations are underway and ambulance units are on site, the Dubai Civil Defence said.    
   
As a precaution earlier on Tuesday, police temporarily closed roads leading to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard from the cinema crossroads, with traffic diverted to the flyover. Motorists were urged to take alternative routes as heavy traffic built up on the way to Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard.
The Address Residence Fountain Views on April 2, 2017. ARCHIE SAMSON/EXPAT MEDIA Smoke billows over the Burj Khalifa on April 2, 2017. Archie Samson/Expat Media
Police also cordoned off interchange 7 leading to the Burj Khalifa, with motorists redirected to the Dubai Mall’s Fashion Parking area. ICA/Expat 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