After 13 hours of fire: new concerns at the BIG complex in Petah Tikva

An electrical fault is the likely cause of the fire that broke out on Saturday at the construction site of the BIG complex, located at the intersection of Jabotinsky and Moshe Dayan streets in Petah Tikva.

A special investigation team from the Fire and Rescue Authority, established by the commander of the Central District in conjunction with the Petah Tikva police, is currently conducting an inquiry. Preliminary findings suggest the fire originated in an electrical cabinet on the minus-one floor of the parking lot, spreading uncontrollably due to the presence of combustible materials, including plastic pipes and plywood stored on-site.

The extent of the damage will be assessed later, including the potential need to demolish the foundations and existing structure—a scenario that would result in millions of shekels in losses.

Due to the intense heat that persisted for over 13 hours, there are significant concerns regarding the structural integrity of the parking floor and foundations. The Petah Tikva municipality will await an inspection by a structural engineer representing the contractor before conducting its own assessment to determine if demolition is required.

Firefighters achieved full control over the blaze early Sunday morning after more than 12 hours of intensive firefighting efforts. The fire, which occurred in an underground parking area of approximately 2,000 square meters, produced heavy smoke that spread across a large area, reaching residential towers in the nearby Neve Gan neighborhood.

Deputy Chief Eyal Ozman, Deputy Commander of the Central District of the Fire and Rescue Authority, discussed the operation in an interview on 103fm radio:

"The firefighters worked with determination during this intensive incident. Fortunately, after 12 hours, we brought the situation under control. It is important to note that this is a massive 13,000-square-meter site. We encountered a fully developed fire and focused on two main efforts: extinguishing the flames and preventing their spread, alongside environmental monitoring due to the combustion products and heavy smoke that enveloped the area."