Four people treated for smoke inhalation during Durban factory blaze
Community group blames lack of oversight for spate of fires in the city over the past month
15 March 2022 - 12:23
bySuthentira Govender
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Four people have been treated for smoke inhalation in a fire at a factory south of Durban. Picture: ALS PARAMEDICS
Firefighters are extinguishing a blaze at a factory in Durban in which four people suffered smoke inhalation.
The fire broke out in a building in Clairwood, a semi-industrial area south of the city.
ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said they received several calls about the burning factory at about 1.30am.
“Paramedics arrived on the scene to find the fire department fighting the blaze,” he said.
“The fire is still active, though firefighters do have it under control. Four people have been treated for smoke inhalation after they helped to try to extinguish the blaze.”
Jamieson said the fire department and police will investigate the cause of the fire.
On Saturday firefighters battled a blaze at a tar-manufacturing company in Hillary, west of Durban. The fire was contained after about three hours, but it destroyed most of the building.
A month ago residents in Clairwood had to be evacuated after three diesel tankers at a local truck yard went up in flames.
According to sources with knowledge of the incident, it is suspected the fire was triggered by people burning copper wire near the yard.
It is understood that about 11,000 litres of diesel in the trucks were lost.
Desmond D’Sa of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance told TimesLIVE at the time fires were due there being no oversight.
“We don’t have an inspectorate going out to investigate and check whether companies are compliant with bylaws and laws.
“We have seen an increase in fires in the Clairwood area. The Transnet pipeline is an example. We’ve seen a resins company catch alight and the fire at UPL that happened during the looting last year.”
Recently 13 people were injured when the China Emporium in central Durban caught alight and burned for two days.
D’Sa said poor communities were mostly affected by the lack of proper emergency plans.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Four people treated for smoke inhalation during Durban factory blaze
Community group blames lack of oversight for spate of fires in the city over the past month
Firefighters are extinguishing a blaze at a factory in Durban in which four people suffered smoke inhalation.
The fire broke out in a building in Clairwood, a semi-industrial area south of the city.
ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said they received several calls about the burning factory at about 1.30am.
“Paramedics arrived on the scene to find the fire department fighting the blaze,” he said.
“The fire is still active, though firefighters do have it under control. Four people have been treated for smoke inhalation after they helped to try to extinguish the blaze.”
Jamieson said the fire department and police will investigate the cause of the fire.
On Saturday firefighters battled a blaze at a tar-manufacturing company in Hillary, west of Durban. The fire was contained after about three hours, but it destroyed most of the building.
A month ago residents in Clairwood had to be evacuated after three diesel tankers at a local truck yard went up in flames.
According to sources with knowledge of the incident, it is suspected the fire was triggered by people burning copper wire near the yard.
It is understood that about 11,000 litres of diesel in the trucks were lost.
Desmond D’Sa of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance told TimesLIVE at the time fires were due there being no oversight.
“We don’t have an inspectorate going out to investigate and check whether companies are compliant with bylaws and laws.
“We have seen an increase in fires in the Clairwood area. The Transnet pipeline is an example. We’ve seen a resins company catch alight and the fire at UPL that happened during the looting last year.”
Recently 13 people were injured when the China Emporium in central Durban caught alight and burned for two days.
D’Sa said poor communities were mostly affected by the lack of proper emergency plans.
TimesLIVE
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