(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The fire that destroyed two floors of the 40-storey Al Tayer Tower in Al Nahda area completely on April 28 and left hundreds of families homeless for days was sparked by a lighted cigarette butt dropped on the balcony of flat No. 108, the Sharjah forensic laboratory said in its investigation report.
Lighted cigarette butts were also the cause of the fires that destroyed Al Kuwait and Baker 4 buildings recently.
The report revealed that the fire in Al Tayer Tower destroyed the flats on eighth and ninth floors and 45 vehicles parked near the building because of burning falling on them.
The report said the first-floor balcony on which the cigarette butt was thrown had cardboard boxes, plastics and other flammable materials. The electricity connection in the flat was perfect and had no signs of short circuit.
The reason for the fire to spread quickly to so many floors was the aluminium cladding panels.
The wind also played a great role.
Some flats on the first floor were not affected, but inflammable materials were stored in their balconies that would have helped spread a fire quickly.
The forensic experts found a lot of cigarette butts thrown on the balconies of the first-floor apartments by people living on the higher levels.
Al Tayer Tower has 408 apartments on 34 residential floors and six parking storeys.
The majority of residents have gone back to their apartments, while the families whose flats were destroyed completely have been given alternative flats in other buildings of the landlord or allowed to end the tenancy contracts.
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