More than ten hours of fire in Petah Tikva: fire brought under control
After a night of battling the fire in the underground parking lot of the future BIG complex in Petah Tikva, which spans approximately 2,000 square meters, the Fire and Rescue Authority announced that all hotspots have been extinguished. A special investigation team will examine how the fire started.
Firefighters gained full control this morning, Sunday, over the large fire that broke out last night in the underground parking lot at the construction site of the future BIG shopping complex in Petah Tikva. This follows more than ten hours of battling the blaze and combustion hotspots at the site. The fire broke out in an underground parking lot spanning an area of approximately 2,000 square meters, near the intersection of Jabotinsky and Moshe Dayan streets. As a result, heavy smoke rose and spread over a wide area, reaching the residential towers in the nearby Neve Gan neighborhood.
Fire and rescue teams from the Petah Tikva station were dispatched to the scene following reports of the fire and heavy smoke, and police forces also arrived in the area. Firefighting operations continued throughout the night, as crews dealt with complex conditions inside the underground parking structure.
Tools and a large amount of equipment were stored at the site, including plastic, wood, and paint. These flammable materials accelerated the spread of the fire and caused the formation of thick smoke, which hindered firefighting efforts. Despite the intensity of the blaze, there was no danger of the fire spreading to nearby buildings.
After long hours of fighting the fire, the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority announced this morning that all hotspots had been extinguished and the incident was under full control. Firefighters are continuing with final operations and scans in the parking lot to ensure that no additional fire hotspots remain. At the same time, the commander of the Central District of the Fire and Rescue Authority, Brigadier General Roni Kedem, ordered the establishment of a special investigation team to examine the circumstances of the fire's outbreak.
At this stage, it remains unclear what led to the fire. Among the possibilities being investigated are arson, the operation of mechanical equipment, extreme heat, or other factors. After the completion of firefighting operations and the dissipation of the smoke, a more comprehensive examination of the scene will be conducted to determine how the fire started.
