Dump site at Industrial Area catches fire

A FIRE broke out at a dump site in the Industrial Area yesterday.

The fire, which broke out around 2pm, quickly burnt heaps of rubble, including tyres, wood and other industrial and domestic waste that had been dumped at the site on Street No 37.

Officials from the Civil Defence reached the site and by 2.30pm the fire was completely put out. Next to the dump was municipality’s junk-yard containing thousands of abandoned vehicles.

Choking with the smell of fumes from burnt tyres, a fireman said: “The cause was most likely the torrid heat at this time of the day. Any stretch of land with a great deal of rubbish, used tyres and wood is the most favourable environment for catching fires. This waste should not have been here in the first place.”

According to him, the fire station in the Industrial Area, located on Street 1, has been “busy for the past few days.”

Gulf Times yesterday reported a fire that gutted a factory located on Street No 24 in the Industrial Area, while another fire on Monday, at a labour camp, in Ain Khalid damaged property worth millions of riyals.

Damage at the factory on Street No 24 was still being assessed yesterday by insurance company officials, but an employee at the factory said: “I fear for my job.”

Charred drinking water containers, office equipment, furniture, hydraulic machines and office papers were found strewn around on the premises.

“I have been with the company for the past several years, while we moved to the Industrial Area three years ago. But now I am not sure if my employer can afford to keep me here, after sustaining loss worth millions,” he said.

Labour sources reported other fires on Street No 38 between 9am and 12pm and on Street No 44 during the early hours of yesterday, but both could not be confirmed. No casualties were reported.