JEDDAH: The numerous workshops located in Jeddah’s Kilo 8 district are like a powder keg. Fires and smoke are common occurrences for those living in the neighborhood and they have sought the help of authorities to solve the burning problem.

The residents point a finger at the workers and technicians in the workshops who are careless when it comes to people’s safety, a local newspaper reported.

The Civil Defense spokesman in Makkah said the number of fires in the east and south of Jeddah, including the workshops in Kilo 8, are caused by mishandling waste and garbage.

A resident of the neighborhood, Mahdi Al-Ahmari, said the whole area is very dangerous.

“The workers do their work in unsupervised situations with no regard for the negative consequences or contaminating the place with remnants of spare parts and equipment,” he said. “Waste is everywhere.”

Another citizen, Mohammad Abdo Asiri, agreed. “The workshops scattered in Kilo 8 are serious and actual hazards,” he said.

Mohammad Baswaidan demanded the authorities regulate the work of these workshops, and force them to adhere to safety measures.

Col. Saeed Sarhan, the Civil Defense spokesman, said one of the tasks entrusted to their teams is to find out the causes of the fire.

He explained some of the fires were caused deliberately to sort out metals and wires in the garbage. The Civil Defense teams always check on safety measures implemented in such locations.

He warned against getting rid of the waste from the workshops in the wrong methods, and called instead for its safe disposal in accordance with known procedures in such situations.