This picture melts our heart…

While thankfully no one was hurt in the Torch Tower fire last night, it’s still an unsettling time for the 86-storey building’s residents.

But, the response shown by Dubai’s first responders is reassuring – as the fire spread on the cladding of the building, the Dubai Civil Defence and the Dubai Fire Service managed to evacuate 475 people “in record time” according to officials.

They also checked all 579 apartments, and rescued pets while doing so, as this photo of a UAE Civil Defence first responder rescuing a cat shows:

It will put many pet owners’ minds at ease to see that Civil Defence rescued the pets of people who perhaps weren’t there on the night.

If you are a tenant of the Torch Tower and are wondering about your legal rights after the emergency, there’s a very good guide to those here that covers everything from damage to your lease agreement.

Also: it’s just been reported that all roads around the area are now completely reopened.

The authorities involved in the rescue and emergency operations last night and today were Dubai Police, Al Barsha police station, Dubai Municipality, Roads and Transport Authority and the Dubai Corporation For Ambulance Services.