With reporting from Peter Kovessy
Dozens of shoppers and staff at City Center Mall were evacuated this morning after a small fire erupted on the third floor.
In a statement sent to Doha News, mall management said the fire originated from children’s play area Fun City, around 9:45am. It was caused by a fault in an electrical cable, and was quickly extinguished by first responders, the statement added.
There were no injuries.
One employee said he was working near Fun City when he heard the fire alarm go off. Security asked people inside the mall to leave, and first responders were on site to assess what happened, he added.
Peter Kovessy
Several shops on the third floor of the mall – including the food court adjacent to Fun City, but not the food court near the cinema – will remain closed for now during a safety check, management said.
A security guard on-site told Doha News that the shops were expected to clear Civil Defense approval sometime after 2pm.
On Twitter, residents who were inside the mall reported smelling something burning.
One woman who was attending a yoga class at the mall’s gym said:
The fire was on 3rd floor at Funville. Was on the 4th floor at the gym and we were evacuated. Smell of burnt plastic filled the air. #Doha
— Assia Amry (@Libyan4life) October 21, 2014
Team at @FitnessFirstME were really good about moving us out quickly. Their fire plan was executed well. #Doha
— Assia Amry (@Libyan4life) October 21, 2014
The most appalling thing is: they're still charging people parking to exit the parking lot….It's a fire, how about letting ppl leave?! #PT
— Assia Amry (@Libyan4life) October 21, 2014
Were you at City Center? Thoughts?
(The post City Center Mall evacuated after small fire is from Doha News.)