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Illegal squatting leads to fire at Bloemfontein CBD building
According to Mangaung Fire and Rescue’s Braam van Zyl, documents belonging to the South African Police Service were destroyed when a fire broke out at a building on the corner of Aliwal and Selborne Street in the Bloemfontein Central Business District (CBD) on Saturday, 5 March 2022 at around 04h26. It is alleged that the fire was caused by a candle being knocked over by illegal occupants who had access to the unused rooms at the back of the property. Early on Saturday morning, children alerted the Fire Department of the fire. Eight fire fighters and two vehicles responded and were on scene within four minutes but the fire was already at an advanced stage. After a two hour battle and 30 000 litres of water, the fire was extinguished.
No injuries or fatalities were reported. “Two years ago, during lockdown, one of the other rooms in the same building caught fire and was extinguished by the Fire Department. Members of the police evicted the occupants, who later returned to the premises,” said Van Zyl. With the illegal occupation of abandoned buildings in the Mangaung Metro in the spotlight, this past week saw a second fire break out in one of the city’s old buildings. With many people saying that homelessness has left people with no choice but to occupy unsafe and abandoned buildings, Bloemfontein Courant has reported on several incidents in the past; the Naval Hill squatters, the battle between Olive Hill community members and squatters, as well as the Arthur Nathan swimming pool being occupied by the homeless. SAPS forensic teams and the Mangaung Metro Fire Department are investigating the incident. Sources: Braam van Zyl, divisional officer, Mangaung Fire Department; Bloemfontein Courant |
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