Civil Defense firefighters extinguish a fire that gutted the eastern façade of a 10-story hotel in Makkah’s Al-Aziziah District, Sunday. The fire first broke out in the shrubs and palm trees and then spread to some of the floors in the building. Civil Defense ground teams controlled the fire by extinguishing it in the shrubs and palm trees and cooling the lower floors. Retractable ladder teams doused the inferno in the upper floors up to the seventh floor. No deaths or injuries were reported. Aside from Civil Defense, related authorities included the traffic police, security patrols, Saudi Red Crescent, Saudi Electricity Company and Makkah Municipality, Col. Said Sarhan, Civil Defense spokesman in Makkah, said. — By Badea Abu Al-Naja/Saudi Gazette
