2011年4月23日 星期六

Joburg factory fire doused

Johannesburg - A fire that broke out at a bedding factory in Booysens, south of Johannesburg on Good Friday was completely extinguished by 07:00 on Saturday, Johannesburg Emergency Services said.

"We managed to stop the fire from spreading and had it completely extinguished by 07:00," spokesperson Percy Morokane said.

Emergency services had feared that the Gordon Prince factory on Koster Street, would collapse. A structural engineer had been at the scene advising emergency services which perimeters they could work in.
"A structural engineer came in last night to advise us which perimeters we need to work on. We followed all the safety protocols."

Morokane said the factory, which manufactures bedding material such as duvets, blankets and comforters had been condemned.

"There will be no further production, entry or exit to this building," he said.

"The Department of Labour will now have to visit the premises to carry its own investigation."

The department would investigate whether anyone had "broken any rules regarding employee safety".

The building appeared to have burnt from the basement and "might have been started by a spark".

"We'll have to look to look at the machinery being used in the basement.

"We suspect that it may have started from a spark from the machinery being used."

The police, labour department and structural engineers will hold an "extensive investigation" into the cause of the fire.

Morokane said the safety of the 150 employees who were inside the building when the fire broke out could be attributed to quick response by emergency services.

He added that the fire could have been a disaster if not for the emergency fire doors in the basement where the fire started.

On Friday Divisional Chief of Johannesburg emergency services, JJ Viljoen, told Sapa water could not used to extinguish the fire because of the weight it carries and it might cause the building to collapse.

"The heat emanating from the basement was so intense, that it caused the upper floor to crack. Therefore, it could collapse at any time."

Foam was pumped into the building to extinguish flames.

He said the pipes from fire hydrants attached to the building could also not be used earlier as it was melting.
Workers, although warned not to, jostled amongst fire-fighters, in a bid to salvage blankets, and the fibre used in manufacturing it.

The employees, loaded blankets onto trucks lining the street.

Security guard at the factory, Martin Griessel, said the fire broke at 21:00.
"I was in the bathroom, when the light suddenly went off. I went out to investigate and saw smoke coming from the basement," he said.

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