|
|
|
|
|
16 January 2026
|
Cape Town fire and hazmat crews respond to chemical incident in Montague Gardens
|
|
A dramatic chemical spill in Montague Gardens in Cape Town sent a thick orange gas cloud over the area on Monday, forcing evacuations and briefly closing nearby roads. Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service, said, “At 15:30 on Monday, 12 January 2025, the Fire and Rescue Services responded to calls of smoke emanating from Ecowize in Montague Gardens. The first responding officer immediately recognised that this is a chemical incident and put the following measures in place: Apart from evacuating the building, an isolation area was established as well as a 300-metre containment area.”
Carelse added, “The hazmat technicians arrived on scene and did a visual inspection to verify any thermal signatures and chemical reactions. They were wearing fully encapsulated suits in order to work in the prevailing conditions. Four patients were treated, one of whom was transported to a nearby medical facility for further care.”
The public were cautioned to steer clear of the area, to not drive through the plume and to keep doors and windows closed and switch off their air-conditioning units.
By early evening, inspections confirmed that the vapour cloud had dissipated. “The Hazmat technicians completed their assessment of the chemical reaction and resultant spill. The temperature of the container at the centre of the incident started stabilising. As it cools down, the chemical reaction will stop. The vapour cloud that hung over the area has dissipated and the area deemed safe. The building has been ventilated and handed over to the owners,” said Carelse.
Preliminary findings indicate that the incident was caused by the unintended mixing of nitric acid and phosphoric acid in a storage system. This reaction produced nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas known for its respiratory hazards. Investigations are ongoing, with a focus on storage arrangements and transfer procedures within the facility. Ecowize, whose operations routinely involve both acids, did not issue an immediate public statement or disclose details about the quantities involved or how the mixing occurred.
Source: Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson, City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service
Carelse added, “The hazmat technicians arrived on scene and did a visual inspection to verify any thermal signatures and chemical reactions. They were wearing fully encapsulated suits in order to work in the prevailing conditions. Four patients were treated, one of whom was transported to a nearby medical facility for further care.”
The public were cautioned to steer clear of the area, to not drive through the plume and to keep doors and windows closed and switch off their air-conditioning units.
By early evening, inspections confirmed that the vapour cloud had dissipated. “The Hazmat technicians completed their assessment of the chemical reaction and resultant spill. The temperature of the container at the centre of the incident started stabilising. As it cools down, the chemical reaction will stop. The vapour cloud that hung over the area has dissipated and the area deemed safe. The building has been ventilated and handed over to the owners,” said Carelse.
Preliminary findings indicate that the incident was caused by the unintended mixing of nitric acid and phosphoric acid in a storage system. This reaction produced nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas known for its respiratory hazards. Investigations are ongoing, with a focus on storage arrangements and transfer procedures within the facility. Ecowize, whose operations routinely involve both acids, did not issue an immediate public statement or disclose details about the quantities involved or how the mixing occurred.
Source: Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson, City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service
