200 laborers lost their homes and belongings in Abu Dhabi Al Reef fire

On Saturday, around 200 laborers lost their homes and belongings after a fire ripped through their accommodation block at Al Reef in Abu Dhabi, according to Khaleej Times.

A witness told StepFeed that no alarm rang after the fire broke out at the worker’s camp.

"By the time we detected the smoke, some people were in their rooms, but we tried our best to alert them to move out," according to a witness who asked not to be identified. 

"I am sure they all moved out because even when the fire brigade calmed down the situation they did not find any casualties inside."

Witnesses also told local media outlets that they first saw smoke billowing from a room in the upper level. They said the fire started just after 4 pm on the first floor of a residential complex that was home to laborers employed by the Dhabi Contracting company. 

The construction company houses about 1,000 Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi workers in the compound. 

The affected complex was a building comprising 32 rooms - 16 on the ground level and 16 above. Each room housed between 8 to 10 workers.

The whole of the first floor and all of the materials were destroyed, according to a witness on the scene. The ground floor sustained mainly smoke and water damage, he said.

An official with the Dhabi Contracting company said the affected workers have been moved to another residence block nearby.

"We arranged another accommodation for them and we do whatever is needful to make them safe and comfortable," said the administrator who asked to stay anonymous. "Everything is under control now."

The camp, which is about 45 kilometers from Abu Dhabi, is a complex of pre-fabricated buildings. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to the company official.

As news of the blaze spread on social media, members of online communities quickly responded by offering to donate essential items to the affected workers. In the 45,000-member FreeCycle Abu Dhabi - a Facebook group where people advertise free items to be given away - many posts offered to give the men clothing, bedding, and other necessities.

The page’s administrator, Gina Dillon, was organizing the logistics.

"FreeCycle is spearheading donations organized by community members,” said Ms. Dillon. 

"We hope to bring neighbors together to collect and drop off to the men of the labor camp. Such a sad thing to happen for those who have close to nothing to lose everything. I’m on standby until I learn more from the management on how the community can lend a hand."

Last year, the camp was the site of another major fire that forced 160 workers to lose their home and possessions. That fire was due to an electrical short circuit.