Two firemen sustained second-degree burns, while participating in the rescue of six people after a factory caught alight in Jacobs, South of Durban, on Sunday. The factory complex consists of several buildings on Brooklyn Road that manufactured shoes and sandals. In the December of 2019, significant portion of the complex was destroyed by a fire and has since been rebuilt. Reports from the fire department stated that the recent fire had already spread significantly. Intense flames and thick smoke could be seen from the western-facing front. The fire may have been caused by a mismanagement of machinery faulty or otherwise used in the factory.
“An extension of the same factory on the northern side, used for storing shoe products and machinery, had also ignited. The factory to the south remained protected by favourable winds, and while nearby residential homes to the east weren’t threatened by flames, they were heavily affected by smoke,” Sisilana said. She explained that crews quickly established operational objectives: ensuring life safety, containing the fire, and fully extinguishing it. She said that factory managers confirmed all staff had evacuated, and no injuries were initially reported. Sisilana said that two hose lines were deployed to prevent further spread when a report came in of persons trapped in the southern factory. Crews acted immediately, rescuing six individuals from the first floor using a ground ladder.
It would appear faith or luck had a role to play in the survival in part of this shoe factory, its workers and the residents of the area were largely spared the spread of the fire. The fact that favourable winds kept the fire at bay till the arrival of the fire fighters is nothing short of a miracle. The arrival of the fire brigade led to the fire being contained. The fire fighters responded in the manner that was responsible and led to the rescue of lives and the prevention of further damage to both the factory and the surrounding area. The factory’s equipment and products would have been damaged in the fire’s rampage. Yes, some of those trapped in the southern buildings of the factory died sadly but others were able to survive.
What matters is to learn from this and look at how to improve the conditions. Meanwhile there has been a loss of power supply to the Mobeni main, Chamberlain and Chatsworth substations leading to power outages in the Durban South areas.
THE eThekwini Municipality has issued an urgent public notice following a total loss of electricity supply to the Mobeni Main, Chamberlain, and Chatsworth Substations. The disruption, which occurred earlier today (June 10), is believed to be linked to strong winds that may have damaged 132kV overhead power lines feeding these substations.
Affected areas include:
- Merewent
- Jacobs
- Austerville
- Wentworth West
- Montclair
- Woodlands industrial
- Yellowwood Park
Municipal engineers are working to examine the affected high-voltage lines. Electricity supply will only be restored once the lines have been evaluated and cleared for restoration in a safe manner.
eThekwini Region possibly has mixed feelings about the strong winds occurring. Whether good in the case of the fire at the shoe factory in the south of Durban or bad in the case of the 132 kV overhead power lines feeding power stations in the same region the south of Durban is engulfed by it. The Municipality cannot always foresee how the weather will react. The loss of electricity in areas of Merewent, Jacobs, Austerville, Montclair, Woodlands Industrial and Yellowwood Park leave much to be desired in terms of conserving energy. The strong winds themselves would have been unpredictable. They can be attributed to climate change like the heavy rain we are also experiencing.
As regards to a fire on Brooklyn Road, Jacobs area, fire inspections and having alarms and extinguishers would go a long way to prevent the disaster that occurred.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
