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Firefighters trying to douse the fire on dhows at Dubai Creek. Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News

Dubai: A fire broke out on three boats in Dubai Creek near Baniyas Street around 3pm on Monday, but there were no major injuries or fatalities reported. It was not immediately clear if the fire started in one dhow and spread to the other.

Maj Gen Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director of Dubai Civil Defence, told Gulf News that a fire broke out on wooden dhows and spread to the wharf area, where it ignited some of the items stored on the wharf.

 “There were no loss of lives, but there was some damage to wharf six and seven,” he said.

The operations room received a call about the fire at 3:04pm and teams reached the scene in five minutes, he said.

“The fire was contained in two hours, and the cooling process is ongoing.” Maj Gen Al Matroushi said.

The two dhows were carrying miscellaneous items, such as electronics and clothes.

“The cause of the fire is unclear. We have to wait for the forensic lab report,” Maj Gen Al Matroushi said.

Teams from four fire stations — Al Ras, Port Saeed, Al Hamriya and Al Ghusais — were at the scene fighting the fire.

An eyewitness at the scene, who works at Dubai Courts, said he heard a loud sound when he was at work.

He went out and saw flames and smoke rising from a boat in the Creek and went closer to the source to see what it was about.

Another eyewitness, Asif Sabry, said he saw smoke when he was crossing Al Maktoum bridge at 4pm on his way to a meeting in a building near the Creek.

“When I was done with my meeting at around 6pm, I could still see thick grey smoke,” he said.

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Huge fire at cargo dhows and goods at Dubai creek. Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News
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People watching as firefighters trying to douse the fire on dhows at Dubai Creek. Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
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