Warehouse Fire Destroys Relief Items in Beirut

Proving once again that fire prevention and suppression must be a priority in any warehouse, hundreds of blankets, mattresses and tents were destroyed last week in a fire at a Beirut facility storing United Nations relief supplies.

"Gifts from the UN just went up in flames," said Darwish Houbaka, the head of the local firefighting operation in a local news report. A thick column of black smoke could be seen throughout the city, which only recently had similar scenes courtesy of Israeli air strikes on fuel storage tanks.

The aid supplies were intended for the tens of thousands of Lebanese who lost their homes and belongings in the 34-day Israeli war on Lebanon.