Community steps up to help tenants of Zen Tower
dubai — The Dubai community showed its true colours yet again on Sunday as it clubbed together to offer food, water and shelter to residents left stranded following the Zen Tower fire in Dubai Marina.
After being alerted of the blaze at about 10.45am, the Dubai Civil Defence teams reached the site within six minutes and managed to get it under control within 45 minutes. Upon their arrival, most residents had evacuated the 14-storey residential tower and one resident said it was the “quick thinking” of the building’s security team that helped keep casualties at zero.
Following the blaze, local restaurants and hotels extended a helping hand to those left temporarily homeless by the blaze. For instance, the Ghaya Grand Hotel in IMPZ has offered more than 55 rooms to Zen Tower residents “for as long as they need”.
A representative from the Pristine Owners Association, which manages the building, told Khaleej Times they expect residents won’t be allowed back into the building for at least four days. He said the association is in touch with the authorities concerned to ascertain when residents can go back to their apartments to assess the damage caused by the fire.
dubai — Residents of the Zen Tower in Dubai Marina have praised the efforts of Dubai Civil Defence and the quick thinking of building security in evacuating and dousing a fire, which broke out in the building on Sunday morning.
At about 10.44am, Dubai Civil Defence control room received a call about the fire and reached the site within six minutes. Despite the strong winds and dusty conditions, they managed to get the blaze under control in under 45 minutes.
Speaking to Khaleej Times on the scene, a Dubai resident (who asked to remain unnamed) said he got a call from his friend who lives in the building.
“I was on my way to collect him for work when the call came. He was inside when the alarm went off but they test the fire alarms a lot, so not everyone moved immediately.”
But then the security team came on over the building’s speaker system and announced that it was not a test, he said.
“We have to give props to the security of the building as they got people moving. My friend lives on the fifth floor and he said there was smoke in the hallway. The elevators were shut off so they took the stairs. After they reached the lobby there was smoke there too so everyone exited through the basement. By all accounts the police, civil defence and security guys cleared the building pretty quick.”
Video footage showed flames engulfing the lower backside of the 14-storey residential building, adjacent to Sheikh Zayed Road, before quickly spreading to the higher floors.
Zen Tower resident Michael Buchta told Khaleej Times he was at work when he received a video from his friend at about 12pm, alerting him of a fire in his building.
“He actually forwarded me the video from Khaleej Times website. I couldn’t believe it. I rushed from my office to the building because my cat is still inside, but obviously for safety reasons they didn’t let me in.”
Living on the 8th floor of the tower for about 6 months, Buchta said this is one thing he didn’t prepare for.
“You know you think of those situations in your head ‘what would you do if...’, this is one scenario I didn’t imagine happening. I am just hearing bits of news from different people but I think Dubai Civil Defence usually help evacuate all animals and bring them to local shelters. I hope that’s the case with my cat.”
While on site at 1pm, Dubai Police and representatives from the Zen Tower were directing all residents to write their name on a piece of paper before boarding a number of RTA buses which were on standby. All the residents were transported to the Ghaya Grand Hotel in IMPZ where they were given refuge following the blaze.
According to the manager of the Waterfront Tower located next to Zen Tower, residents from his building were also evacuated following the fire for “precautionary measures”. But at about 2pm he said “all residents were allowed to re-enter their property”.
Although several cars nearby were damaged by falling debris from the blaze, initial reports the Dubai Media Office Twitter handle said no casualties were reported.
During the cooling down operations, Brigadier Abdul Rahim bin Shafi’a, director of Al Barsha Police Station, also confirmed to Khaleej Times that all people staying in the Tower were evacuated safely.
“Now we are just re-checking the whole building with Dubai Civil Defence to make sure it is empty. It may take several hours but the safety of residents is our main concern.”
As yet, the cause of the fire remains unknown.
kelly@khaleejtimes.com
Now, we are just re-checking the whole building with Dubai Civil Defence to make sure it is empty. It may take several hours but the safety of residents is our main concern.” Brig Abdul Rahim bin Shafi’a,
A friend forwarded me the video from the
Khaleej Times website. I couldn’t believe it. I rushed from my office to the building because my cat is still inside.” Michael Buchta, director, Al Barsha Police Station Zen Tower resident