The director of Civil Defense for the province of Makkah has said that the fire that broke out at King Abdul Aziz Endowment Towers on Thursday has raised serious questions over safety standards. Adel Al-Zamzami noted that the blaze was the second in the city in a short period, and said that an emergency committee had been formed to start investigations. “The committee is collecting evidence and listening to witnesses' testimonies, and the results will be announced soon,” Al-Zamzami said. Al-Zamzami denied that any of the under-construction towers had been opened for use. “The endowment administration requested to the opening of some, but we refused on safety grounds,” he said. According to Al-Zamzami, Thursday afternoon's fire broke out in a building containing large amounts of inflammable material, making the firefighting operation difficult. “The fire was extinguished by 23 firefighting teams and seven rescue teams that carried out a well-executed a plan,” Al-Zamzami said. “The only injuries incurred were two firefighters who suffered smoke inhalation and immediately received treatment.” Thursday's fire in one of the towers of the under-construction building was the second such incident in the city following the blaze which gutted the upper floors of the Hajer Tower building in October of last year.
