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16 January 2026
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15 000 litres of diesel ignited in Germiston recycling factory, Ekurhuleni
Volatile raging flames from a fire that broke out at a rubber recycling company Germiston south, forced workers to flee for their lives and streets to be temporarily closed for safety reasons. Approximately 15 000 litres of diesel caught fire during offloading into plastic reservoir tanks. City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) firefighters received the call exactly 10H07, Thursday, 15 January 2026 in the morning for a well alight structural fire at the intersection of Railway and Power Streets, Germiston south, City of Ekurhuleni.
Primary responding teams from Germiston, Primrose, Wadeville and other surrounding fire stations, all responded swiftly to the scene for intervention. A total of five fire stations were in attendance augmented by 31 firefighters and a fleet of six fire engines.
The primary responding team was from Germiston Central Fire Station and on arrival, flames and heavy dense carbon smoke were emitted from the burning structure and diesel fuel covering the atmosphere. Subsequently, companies nearby were in a high risk of burning as well due to the spread of fire.
About 15 thousand litres of diesel fuel filled inside the plastic reservoir tanks caught alight during the delivery. Due to runoff of diesel, fire spread through to the two mentioned streets surfaces before flowing into the storm water drain systems. Streets had to be temporarily closed for traffic flow and for safety of pedestrians.
Swift intervention by firefighters prevented what was to be catastrophic incident. No casualties were recorded on scene. Part of the factory suffered extensive damage.
It is alleged that the cause of the fire was as a result of a spark while a diesel fuel truck tanker was delivering diesel fuel in the plastic reservoir tanks. Definitive investigation by fire safety officers is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Stakeholders such as Spill Tech Company and CoE Environmental Department Officers were on scene for mop up and rehabilitation operations.
Source: William Ntladi, district manager media liaison: Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS)
Primary responding teams from Germiston, Primrose, Wadeville and other surrounding fire stations, all responded swiftly to the scene for intervention. A total of five fire stations were in attendance augmented by 31 firefighters and a fleet of six fire engines.
The primary responding team was from Germiston Central Fire Station and on arrival, flames and heavy dense carbon smoke were emitted from the burning structure and diesel fuel covering the atmosphere. Subsequently, companies nearby were in a high risk of burning as well due to the spread of fire.
About 15 thousand litres of diesel fuel filled inside the plastic reservoir tanks caught alight during the delivery. Due to runoff of diesel, fire spread through to the two mentioned streets surfaces before flowing into the storm water drain systems. Streets had to be temporarily closed for traffic flow and for safety of pedestrians.
Swift intervention by firefighters prevented what was to be catastrophic incident. No casualties were recorded on scene. Part of the factory suffered extensive damage.
It is alleged that the cause of the fire was as a result of a spark while a diesel fuel truck tanker was delivering diesel fuel in the plastic reservoir tanks. Definitive investigation by fire safety officers is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Stakeholders such as Spill Tech Company and CoE Environmental Department Officers were on scene for mop up and rehabilitation operations.
Source: William Ntladi, district manager media liaison: Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS)
