Community rallies after Al Reef fire destroys 200 workers’ belongings
▶ Offers of support pour in on Facebook following blaze at labour accommodation on Saturday
About 200 labourers have lost their homes and belongings after a fire ripped through their accommodation block in Al Reef on Saturday.
A witness said that no alarm rang after the fire broke out at the camp.
“By the time we detected the smoke some people were in their rooms, but we tried our best to alert them to move out,” a witness said.
“I am sure they all moved out because even when the fire brigade calmed down the situation they did not find any casualties.”
Other witnesses said they first saw smoke billowing from a room in the upper level. They said the fire started just after 4pm on the first floor of the residential complex that was home to labourers employed by Dhabi Contracting Company.
The construction company houses about 1,000 Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi workers at the compound.
The affected building comprised 32 rooms – 16 on the ground level and 16 above.
“The whole of the first floor, all of the materials were destroyed,” a witness said. The ground floor sustained mainly smoke and water damage.
As news of the blaze spread on social media, members of online communities quickly responded by offering to donate essential items.
In the 45,000-member Free Cycle Abu Dhabi – a Facebook group where people advertise items to be given away – many posts offered to give the men clothing, bedding and other necessities.
The page’s administrator, Gina Dillon, was organising the logistics.
“Free Cycle is leading donations organised by community members,” said Ms Dillon. “We hope to bring neighbours together to collect and drop off to the men of the labour camp.
“It’s such a sad thing to happen – for those who have close to nothing to lose everything.
“I’m on standby until I learn more from the management on how the community can lend a hand.”
An official at the company said the affected workers had been moved to a nearby residence block.
“We arranged other accommodation for them and we’ll do whatever is needful to make them safe and comfortable,” said the administrator.
“Everything is under control now.”
The camp, which is about 45 kilometres from Abu Dhabi, is a complex of pre-fabricated buildings.
The cause of the blaze is being investigated.
Last year, the camp was the site of another major fire in which 160 workers lost their home and possessions.
That fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.