IKEA fire caused by short circuit
Rain waters coming in contact with building's electrical systems caused massive fire in Swedish furniture chain's Netanya branch, investigation concludes. Fire Services checking why site's fire detection systems failed to operate
The fire that incinerated the IKEA branch in Netanya was not caused by arson but by rain waters coming in contact with the building's electrical system, a police investigation suggests.
The investigation has therefore been closed but Fire Services will continue checking why the site's fire detection systems failed to operate.
IKEA building after massive fire (Photo: Eran Melamed)
A special investigation unit has been gathering evidence in the burned down building in Netanya since the fire was contained in order to discover the cause.
Concerned for their livelihood, many of the flagship store's employees arrived on the scene to see the damage for themselves.
IKEA Israel's CEO Shlomo Gabai, who was visiting the remains as well, assured them that "everything will be alright." He said that he entered the office with the firefighters immediately after the blaze was put out in order to salvage the employee list.
"The workers are still IKEA employees," he said. "We will take care of them."
In the aftermath of the fire, the plan is to rebuild the structure and reopen the store within a year, Gabai told Ynet. Despite the optimism, he had trouble accepting what had occurred.
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