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Fire at St George's Cathedral in Cape Town, arson suspected
A fire broke out at the St George's Cathedral in Wales Street, Cape Town, in the early hours of Sunday morning, 6 February 2022. Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service said, “The emergency call was received at 01h52 and it was logged as a church alight. Crews from Roeland Street and Sea Point fire stations were on scene with two fire engines and 10 staff members. Rubbish was burning in the basement of St Georges Cathedral. The crew had to break down one of the burglar bars in front of the air vent to gain access to the basement.”
“Challenges faced included gaining access into the basement area. The incident was closed at 03h45. The basement and the crypt were damaged, however, the building itself did not sustain any damages. No injuries were reported,” said Carelse. In a social media post, the Dean of the Cathedral, Reverend Michael Weeder said that the fire was an act of arson. The fire erupted at the St George's Cathedral in the early hours of Sunday morning, allegedly by an arsonist who was seen fleeing the scene. Reverend Weeder said their preliminary investigation found that a lit cotton ball was thrown through the barred window near the steps leading up to the cathedral's main entrance. There was no apparent damage to the property and a case was registered with police. Sources: Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson, City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service; EWN Photo inside cathedral: Platoon Commander Nathan de Kock |
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