Irbid, Jordan—Flames raced through rows of sewing machines and piled fabrics within seconds on Thursday afternoon. A sudden electrical short circuit behind the main distribution panel ignited a violent flash fire inside a crowded textile workshop in the industrial district. Two workers trapped by the thick black smoke suffered severe smoke inhalation before managing to escape through a rear exit.
Thick plumes of dark smoke billowed from the second-story windows, drawing anxious onlookers from neighboring commercial properties. Civil defense fire engines arrived within minutes, deploying high-pressure hoses to beat back the intense thermal radiation. Firefighters fought the aggressive blaze for over an hour to prevent the flames from jumping to adjacent storage units.
Medical crews treated the injured workers on the pavement before rushing them to the regional government hospital. Hospital emergency staff confirmed that both victims remain under observation for acute respiratory irritation and minor burns. Inspectors noted that the workshop interior suffered catastrophic structural and inventory damage.
"The sparks started behind the wall and the entire room caught fire instantly," said a worker who escaped the burning floor. "There was no time to grab tools or inventory. We just ran for the back door as the heat chased us."
Municipal safety investigators cordoned off the burnt-out commercial space to examine charred wiring harnesses and circuit breakers. Preliminary findings point to overloaded power lines running through outdated conduits within the facility. Labor ministry officials announced a renewed safety inspection sweep targeting small manufacturing shops across the governorate.
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