Skyscraper on fire in Dubai

[Dennisch]

There is a fire raging on the upper levels of The Torch building.

Trying to find more info.

From the BBC:

A fire has ripped through the Torch skyscraper in Dubai, one of the tallest residential buildings in the world.

Strong winds were helping the blaze to spread across the 336.1m (1,105ft) building in the marina district.

One eyewitness told the BBC "there was debris flying everywhere, falling into neighbouring buildings".

It was not immediately known what caused the fire or whether people were inside the building. There are no reports yet of any casualties.

Thousands of people have reportedly been evacuated. A number of fire engines and ambulances are now at the scene.

 

[Downhill Dino]

Could the building end up collapsing? This looks pretty bad.

Unfortunate circumstances what with the jokes I can see coming in.

 

[Dennisch]

There seem to be fires raging through the building on different levels.

 

[ukfan758]

Hopefully everyone is alright.

 

[G.T.Ace]

Must...resist...torch....jokes....

Let's hope no one was injured, the fire looks really bad.

 

[ukfan758]

http://bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31562099
The fire thankfully is or is almost out.

 

[Grayfox]

The structural damage may be too much to repair, they may have to rebuild.

Hopefully they can recover some costs by recycling materials if they do rebuild

 

[Robin]

Fire's in such tall buildings is always scary. That's whats so dangerous about supertall residential buildings, unlike commercial buildings which have in unit sprinklers, tested electricals, watchmen and pretty much nobody doing stuff in them late at night.... residential units have all the risks of a 2 storey house but 90 floors up!

The structural damage may be too much to repair, they may have to rebuild.

As the fire appears to have been very near the top they could possibly chop the tower back down to the 'good bit' and rebuild from there.

 

[PeterJB]

It's highly unlikely it would have collapsed, all post-9/11 skyscrapers are designed with this in mind.

 

[GTPorsche]

Reports of smoke inhalation but I haven't seen anything about any worse injuries or any casualties yet.

 

[Scaff]

Its quite literally across the road and around the corner from the Hotel I stay in when I'm working in Dubai (the Media One), good to hear that no one was hurt and as luck would have it a fire station is also just around the block.

 

[Vegard]

all post-9/11 steel framed skyscrapers are designed with this in mind.

FTFY

 

[Robin]

Well this is the aftermath, looks reasonably repairable if the concrete is structurally sound.

They are still investigating the cause.

 

[Dennisch]

Bump.

There is a new one going on,and it's a big one this time.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Bump.

There is a new one going on,and it's a big one this time.

This time it's in a building called "The Address", apparently that's near to Burj Khalifa.

 

[ToyGTone]

I was actually going to do a thread about this...

 

[ukfan758]

This is going to have bad results I'm afraid:

 

[Wiegert]

Part of the same development as the Burj. Presumably far enough from other larger structures for this fire to remain isolated though. We're talking the 6th tallest building in Dubai on the near right:

Apparently the blaze is currently 90% under control as live shots show that it's marginally less intense than it was an hour ago. Reports of only a handful of minor injuries and one heart attack so far.

 

[ToyGTone]

And then people just makes fun of this situation and that their happy with that's happening...

It made me sick how ignorant they're...

 

[photonrider]

This is going to have bad results I'm afraid:

View attachment 496933

That looks bad; how recent is this pic? Is the blaze completely out now?
Guess I'm going to have to start riding Google.

Good to hear no fatalities - if the guy who had the palpitations has recovered too.

 

[ToyGTone]

That looks bad; how recent is this pic? Is the blaze completely out now?
Guess I'm going to have to start riding Google.

Good to hear no fatalities - if the guy who had the palpitations has recovered too.

Right now, they currently celebrating 2016...

 

[Johnnypenso]

Crazy stuff. Hard to believe a modern building with up to date construction techniques and sprinkler system could have a fire that is so massive.

 

[photonrider]

Right now, they currently celebrating 2016...

What was the cause? Over-celebrating?

 

[TenEightyOne]

Crazy stuff. Hard to believe a modern building with up to date construction techniques and sprinkler system could have a fire that is so massive.

I think height is its enemy, as with many buildings like this. Strong winds quickly counteract fire-suppression systems once the outer skin is broken.

Couple that with the inevitable rumours of shortcuts in design/build and there you have it.

 

[ToyGTone]

What was the cause? Over-celebrating?

I don't know what was the cause of the fire...
But they seems to be focusing more on the celebration than the fire...

 

[photonrider]

Having lived in the UAE for awhile, I'm not surprised. Time is short, life is sweet, put the fire out and let's move on.
They can be grimly efficient when using their resources - it is a fairly advanced society.

 

[Robin]

I thought it was slightly in bad taste that they continued with the fireworks display when they didn't know if there were any casualties at the time.

As for the cause I usually believe that it's due to people being careless at new years eve house parties, lighting candles or having cooking equipment overheat etc.... basically not paying the usual care and attention. That or the buildings utilities overloaded under energy strain and caught fire.

Something's up in the UAE because in other skyscraper dominated cities fire rarely happen to this degree. Maybe the rushed construction of these buildings during the early 2000's boom and the use of relatively unskilled overworked labour might play some part.

 

[FoRiZon]

That money and manpower are already wasted on preparing said fireworks. It has to be go somewhere.

But on the other hand, i do agreed its does on bad taste. Thankfully no major injuries and death, though still unconfirmed.

 

[Dotini]

...the inevitable rumours of shortcuts in design/build...

CNN and FOX rushed several "experts" to the air who were effusive in their praise of the design and construction of this particular building.

It said to still be burning at this late hour.

 

[ukfan758]

What I don't understand is why is the fire spreading up and down the skyscraper so quickly in the two buildings covered in this thread?

When the John Hancock tower in Chicago caught fire, it stayed relatively confined.


Also, both trade towers after planes flew into them did not have fires that spread through the whole building.


Is it different materials, safety standards, inefficient fire extinguishing systems?