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3 February 2023
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Ekurhuleni crews extinguish landfill fire in Primrose
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City of Ekurhuleni fire crews responded to a landfill fire at the Simmer and Jack landfill site in Primrose on Tuesday, 24 January 2023. William Ntladi, district manager media liaison at Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), said, “The fire was reported on Tuesday evening at 22h30 and emergency services responded to the incident. It is the landfill site in Primrose area that is burning on most of the Eastern side wall. Operations were hampered by lack of water source in the area and water had to be relayed for approximately two kilometres, which caused strain on fire fighting vehicles that had to pump water for hours and also causing damage to fire fighting fire hoses.”
Ntladi added, “Due to the extended duration of the incident, the temperature and technicality of this type of fire, fire fighting crews were working on a four-hourly rotational basis to ensure they are not exhausted. Fire crews from Primrose, Bedfordview, Edenvale, Kempton Park, Commercia, Rynfield and Leon Ferreira fire stations were on scene. At any stage there were at least 16 crew members on site.”
“The flames were knocked down on Wednesday morning and damping down operations started. This is where the smouldering material had to be opened up and all hotspots needs to be cooled down and smouldering flames needed to be extinguished. The process were assisted by contractors on site providing mechanical support with bulldozers and excavators”, said Ntladi.
“Very good progress were been made and the fire extinguished by end of business on Friday, 27 January 2023, after which crews scaled down to monitor the situation”, he added.
The cause of the fire is unknown and only minor incidents of injury occurred such as complaints of headaches. Damage has to be determined by the landfill site management.
Challenges faced included the extreme level of heat conditions, no water supply on the landfill site.
Source: William Ntladi, district manager media liaison: Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS)
Ntladi added, “Due to the extended duration of the incident, the temperature and technicality of this type of fire, fire fighting crews were working on a four-hourly rotational basis to ensure they are not exhausted. Fire crews from Primrose, Bedfordview, Edenvale, Kempton Park, Commercia, Rynfield and Leon Ferreira fire stations were on scene. At any stage there were at least 16 crew members on site.”
“The flames were knocked down on Wednesday morning and damping down operations started. This is where the smouldering material had to be opened up and all hotspots needs to be cooled down and smouldering flames needed to be extinguished. The process were assisted by contractors on site providing mechanical support with bulldozers and excavators”, said Ntladi.
“Very good progress were been made and the fire extinguished by end of business on Friday, 27 January 2023, after which crews scaled down to monitor the situation”, he added.
The cause of the fire is unknown and only minor incidents of injury occurred such as complaints of headaches. Damage has to be determined by the landfill site management.
Challenges faced included the extreme level of heat conditions, no water supply on the landfill site.
Source: William Ntladi, district manager media liaison: Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS)
