Dhow fire contained: Dubai Civil Defence

The Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) team successfully contained a fire that erupted on two boats at Deira Creek on Monday afternoon.

An official said the fire was brought under control within two-and-a-half hours by the DCD teams, which worked in conjunction with the Dubai Marine Rescue Unit.

According to the chief coordinator of operations from Civil Defence, teams arrived within minutes of the call received at 3.04pm, with prompt action ensuring there were no casualties.

Quoting Dubai Customs, Dubai Media Office also tweeted trade movement on the Creek returned to normal shortly after the fire broke out.

Speaking to Emirates 24l7, Lt Col Ali Al Mutawa, Director of Operations Department at Dubai Civil Defence (DCD), stated it took a little over two hours to bring the fire under control, with Dubai Police now conducting an investigation into the cause of fire. 

He continued: "One of the two‎ boats was a wooden dhow, while the other was fibre glass, which required a special type of foam to contain.

"We had four marine boats and three rescue boats trying to contain the fire, but it spread fast that it reached the fuel tank of the boat.

"The intense heat also made it difficult for firefighters, with the densely packed area causing the blaze to spread across the platform with a lot of the cargo also catching fire."

Al Mutawa added the cargo was mainly electrical appliances, along with food items and other miscellaneous things.

Col Rashid bin Massam Al Buflaseh, DCD General Director Office Manager, said: "The electric items, such as refrigerators and washing machines had compressors that made the situation even more hazardous."

The authorities also confirmed three team members were treated for dehydration, while one person from the boat was dispatched to Rashid Hospital for further treatment. The boats were bound for Iran.

Earlier report

A number of dhows were on fire in Deira Creek on Monday afternoon.

Eyewitnesses told Emirates 24l7 that the fire erupted at around 3pm and apparently three to four boats were on fire at the time of writing this news.

As many as 10 civil defence and four rescue vehicles were on the scene queuing along the Creek to put out the blaze and more Civil Defence vehicles were seen arriving to fight the blaze.

A Civil Defence official said they received call at 3.04pm and five teams were immediately dispatched to combat the blaze which is still burning.

The black smoke billowing from the burning dhows could be seen as far as from Sheikh Zayed Road.

Motorists have been advised to avoid Al Maktoum Bridge crossing due to heavy traffic.

Eyewitnesses told this website that two boats with a lot of supplies – mainly food items such as rice, chasews etc – caught fire and cargo could be seen floating in the sea.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire began in an Iranian carrier that suffered a possible short-ciruit in the air-conditioning unit on the dhow and then it spread as there was dry wood on the docks. There was also oil onboard the dhows.

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