Updated at 10am
With reporting from Lesley Walker and Peter Kovessy
Emergency responders have finished battling a fire at the Pearl-Qatar that raged for at least an hour and a half, according to the Ministry of Interior, which said the flames have been controlled without injury:
الدفاع المدني يستكمل اجراءاته بشأن محاصرة حريق اللؤلؤة وتتم الآن عملية السيطرة عليه ولا يوجد مصابين #الداخلية_قطر
— وزارة الداخلية – قطر (@MOI_Qatar) May 25, 2014
However, half an hour later, smoke still appears to be coming off the site of the fire:
Thick black smoke continues to pour out from what appears to be a fire behind Woqod Petrol Station @ Pearl. #Qatar pic.twitter.com/NOTYBF1DFE
— Peter Kovessy (@peterkovessy) May 25, 2014
According to witnesses there who spoke to Doha News, the fire is near the Woqod Petrol Station at the Pearl, opposite Medina Centrale. Flames apparently reached as high as two to three stories.
Earlier in the morning, MOI tweeted that Civil Defense was working to bring the fire under control:
Civil Defence initiate its procedures to control the fire broke out at an open warehouse @ThePearlQatar
— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) May 25, 2014
One resident said the warehouse contained building materials:
https://twitter.com/will7773wright/status/470453072678768640
The fire is not near a residential area, though there are some villas close to the blaze. However, the proximity to the petrol station has worried some residents. Meanwhile, black smoke could be seen across the Corniche, as it billowed off the island across the Doha Bay.
A spokesman for the United Development Company, which operates the Pearl, told Doha News he is looking into the matter.
Fires an increasingly common site in Qatar, especially as the weather heats up – much to the dismay of many residents:
@dohanews @bennozoid @JustinLindberg monthly common incident in Qatar. GovernorHotel westbay was the last one. seriously to be looked @
— Rinith. KT (@RinithKT) May 25, 2014
The petrol station has been closed for now as a safety precaution, as fire officials spray the area with foam.
Thoughts?
Doesn’t look as if its actually the station forecourt but the area behind by the car wash thank goodness. Hope all are safe. On a side note, about 2 weeks ago when getting my car washed there, I asked a guy to put out his cigarette as he was smoking directly next to the pumps…….he just never even associated the risk judging by his face……..
Lack of risk awareness is endemic. Whether it is strapping kids in, tailgating, much of the parking decisions, to installing roadsigns at a perfect height to wack pedsestrian in the head, or removing said roadsign and leaving the mounting bolts sticking out of the pavement. Etc. etc.
Well the new road signs on the refurbished flyover at Jaiddah has road signs mounted in the carriageway protected by a white line !!! Can’t see them lasting long.
But did he also switch off his engine or keep it running for the a/c ???
We were standing outside at the valet cleaning part, he was standing just outside flicking his ash. His car was inside like mine, so he was waiting., so no A/c I did also gently point out his proximity to the underground gas storage tank covers, as he was only a few metres from them………
Gassing the poor fuel attendant to death….
Well, its just opposite the civil defense station, so not far to drive for them..
Strange it took them 1.5 hours to put out, it should have been put out immediately since they’re next door
Maybe they were waiting on authorisation before proceeding and confirmation on the fire’s location in case they put out the wrong one.
Depends on the type of fuel the fire is burning, access to the seat of the fire, consideration of containment as first priority due to petrol station nearby , wind direction, etc etc. Lots of factors impact the attack on a fire. But as you hint at one of them is also competence 😉
What a drag. That’s the best gas station in Doha.
Queue ban on warehouses within 1km of petrol stations in 5…4…3…
LOL….
Are all buildings on the pearl cleared by Civil defence?