CAIRO: The fire that enveloped a downtown building Saturday was probably caused by an electrical short circuit in a tire storeroom on the third floor of the building. Assistant to the Interior Minister Ismail Al Shaer told Al-Dostour newspaper that the explosion of an electrical panel caused an electrical short in the warehouse on the third floor of the building sparked the fire. The six-storey building on 79 Is'af Street was in the process of renovation by the Arab Contractors company when the fire broke out at 3 pm on Saturday. Police arrested a worker from Al Hawary Tires for questioning over the initial cause of the fire. Tenants reported an explosion before the flames engulfed the entire building. The fire continued ablaze for several hours before it was finally extinguished, again prompting further criticism of the effectiveness of emergency services in Egypt. An ambulance worker told Daily News Egypt reporters on the scene that 25 people had been injured. Other news outlets reported nine serious injuries and 11 milder ones. Injuries reported were suffocation from the fumes as well as burns. This was the third major fire to hit Cairo in the past seven months, after the fires to the Shoura Council building last August and the National Theatre two months later. -Daily News Egypt
