Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH – Investigations have revealed that several recent fires that broke out at factories and warehouses in the city were intentionally set, said Maj. Gen. Adel Yousif Zamzami, Director General of Civil Defense in Makkah Region. In an exclusive interview with Al-Madinah newspaper, Zamzami said he was unable to reveal the causes of the fire but said authorities were continuing their investigations. “We have very advanced crime analysis labs and highly trained investigators. We have proof that some of the fires that gutted factories and warehouses recently were intentionally set. We have handed over our reports to the concerned authorities in the governorate," Zamzami said. Commenting on the inferior quality of electrical appliances and wiring used in buildings, he said the Civil Defense always cautions owners against using inferior electrical products and said the problem is being addressed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which is considering its options on how to ban such products for the sake of public safety. On the spate of recent fires in the Balad area of Jeddah, Zamzami said investigators weren't able to conclude whether arson played a role. “We weren't able to determine if they were intentionally set or not because a lot of parties are using the warehouses in the city's downtown area for storage. A committee headed by the Governor of Jeddah has worked out measures to ensure the safety of this area," Zamzami said. He added that the measures adopted by the committee included construction of wider roads and a fire extinguishing network in the area.
