Posted inRetail

Fire erupts at Burjuman Centre

UPDATE: Bur Dubai shopping centre evacuated after fire breaks out in restaurant area on third floor.

A blaze erupted at Dubai’s Burjuman Centre on Thursday, forcing the evacuation of the complex.

Eisa Adam Ibrahim, general manager at the centre, told ArabianBusiness.com fire broke out at about 2.15pm in the garden pavillion area of the centre. About 2000 people were evacuated, he said.

The fire is thought to have started in the restaurant area of the garden pavillion, which is in the new area of the mall. The old area had stayed open the whole time, he said.

The cause of the fire was unknown but an investigation was underway. Ibrahim expected the centre to be “open for business” by 5.00pm on Thursday, he said.

There were no injuries or structural damage as a result of the fire.

Ibrahim said the fire had “come at the right time” since the centre’s staff had been trained in dealing with emergency situations on Wednesday.

An eyewitness earlier told ArabianBusiness.com in a phone interview fire broke out on the third floor of the shopping centre.

Within 30 minutes the centre was flooded with smoke, prompting the evacuation of all people from the premises.

The eyewitness said the fire had started in the restaurant or food court area of the shopping mall, which is located in Bur Dubai.

According to its website, BurJuman has more than 300 stores including designer fashions such as Donna Karan, DKNY, Calvin Klein and Cartier.

The Burjuman fire follows a spate of workplace blazes in Dubai last month, the most serious of which occurred at an illegal fireworks warehouse in Al Quoz.

The fire, sparked by an explosion killed at least eight people and destroyed dozens of buildings.

Did you witness the Burjuman fire? Send your images to [email protected].

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