Dubai Marina Building Fire: A massive and huge fire that started late Friday night in the 67-storey Marina Pinnacle tower in Dubai Marina has been controlled after a large six-hour effort by Dubai Civil Defense, and the good news is that there were no injuries or casualties.
Dubai Media Office announced that dedicated emergency teams managed to evacuate 3,820 residents, living in 764 apartments in the high-rise tower. The operation was started soon after the fire broke out at around 9:30 PM on Friday night and was still going on late into the early hours of Saturday morning.

The DMO also gave detailed information regarding the evacuation process at 2:21 AM, saying that all occupants had been evacuated safely and in a controlled fashion. Ambulance crews and mental health care support staff were on the scene to provide medical treatment and psychological help to victims.
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Firefighting Operations Lasted Over Six Hours
The fire raged more than six hours before it was brought under control and evacuation and firefighting efforts went on until the early hours of the morning. The flames have been contained completely but cooling operations were still going on well into Saturday morning and smoke could still be seen coming out of the upper floors of the building.
Panic and Pungent Smoke
A resident who lives on the 49th floor said how he woke up from his sleep after smelling pungent smoke that was getting into his room: My housemates were calling my name and we ran down the stairs in our pajamas,” she said. She said that the upper floors were filling with smoke, potentially on the 60th floor or above. Some videos posted on social media by witnesses indicated that flames were spreading very fast on upper parts of the tower.

Cause of Fire Still Unknown
The cause of the fire is still unknown as of Saturday morning and cooling operations are still ongoing. The DMO explained that smoke remainning at the venue is because the firefighting teams are still working to completely put off hot spots within the area to avert re-ignition.
This is the second mega fire at Marina Pinnacle. In May 2015, a kitchen fire started on the 47th floor and spread to the 48th floor, before it was controlled. The tower is situated near The Torch, another high-rise in Marina, which has had two big fires in 2015 and 2017.
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Emergency Assistance to Displaced Residents
The government is currently collaborating with the developer of the building to accord the victims temporary housing and care. According to a statement by the DMO, “the first priority is the safety and well-being of the people involved in the incident”.
A large number of evacuees were observed in the streets around the Marina Towers Tram Station with their personal effects and some even with pets, suffering through a hot and humid night.
Rapid and Coordinated Response Praised
Emergency services in Dubai have been lauded as quick and well organized. A couple of fire engines and ambulances were rushed to the spot in a few minutes after the alarm. The firefighters kept fighting the flames late into the night, structural safety of the tower was ensured as they were safeguarding the residents and the nearby buildings.

Authorities Urge Vigilance
Dubai authorities have again commended the effective evacuation process and reiterated their determination to ensure the safety of residents and fire compliance of buildings. The residents have been asked to be watchful and practice safety guidelines as the investigations are underway.
The Dubai Media Office said: “The safety and well-being of all residents is our priority.” “We would like to thank the Civil Defence and emergency teams, their professionalism and courage.” With recovery efforts just setting in, several displaced residents are looking forward to understanding when they can move back to their houses, or even if they can.
The cause is still under investigation, but this event is one more reminder of the necessity of the strict fire security measures in high-rise buildings. The government has encouraged all citizens and building management firms to be watchful and fire safety equipment should be properly functioning.