A huge fire gutted about 50 shops in the Industrial Estate of the city on Monday. Over 20 firefighting teams were engaged in dowsing the fire which took them about an hour-and-a-half. Four members of the firefighting teams suffered suffocation and slight injuries and first-aid was provided to them on the spot. The Civil Defense declared a state of alert as firemen continued to fight the blaze and well-equipped Red Crescent medical vehicles were stationed at the location to respond to any emergent situation. Lt. Col. Ali Al-Muntashiri, spokesperson and Director of Investigations in the Civil Defense said the security authorities have opened investigations with a number of workers and security guards in the Makkah Industrial Estate on the circumstances and causes of the fire. It is believed that the aromatic products and the nature of some commodities exacerbated the fire.
