A drone is used in cooling operations at Saleh bin Lahej Building in Sharjah on September 23, 2025. DUBAI MEDIA OFFICE

Cooling operations are underway after a fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon (September 23) in a residential building in Al Barsha, just a few metres from the Mall of the Emirates. According to Dubai Civil Defence, the operations room received an emergency call at 2:11pm. Fire crews arrived at the Saleh bin Lahej building within six minutes, immediately evacuating residents before containing the blaze. No injuries were reported. Dramatic footage from the scene showed thick smoke rising from multiple floors of the building as firefighters battled the flames from cranes. A firefighting drone, known as the Shaheen aircraft, was then deployed for cooling operations. Watch:  The Shaheen drone can fight fires in high-rise buildings up to 200 metres tall. It is equipped with a 1,200-litre water tank and fire extinguishing systems, allowing Civil Defence to target hotspots that traditional methods may not easily reach. By 4pm, no flames were visible but smoke was still billowing from the building as drones and crews worked to complete cooling operations. Once concluded, the site will be handed over to the competent authorities for investigation. The affected tower sits beside the residential building that caught fire on December 30 last year, and near The B1 Mall behind Mall of the Emirates. The Al Barsha area has seen several major blazes in recent years, including the Al Zarooni building fire in May, which left the 13-storey tower closed after a restaurant gas leak triggered an explosion and fire. Dubai Civil Defence praised the swift response of its teams and reminded residents to remain vigilant and report any fire hazards immediately. ICA/Expat Media
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