|
|
|
|
|
30 January 2026
|
Arson fire at Paarl Provincial Hospital results in evacuations
|
|
A significant fire broke out at Paarl Provincial Hospital on Tuesday morning, 27 January 2026, causing extensive damage to the outpatient department and forcing a full evacuation. Drakenstein Municipailty CFO Wynand Els, Manager: Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management, said, “The fire spread to the building though the ground and first floor windows next to the vehicle. The fire spread through the HVAC system and ceiling void on the first floor. Evacuation of the Outpatient area was done immediately and some subsequent areas later. Initially, the main station Paarl responded to the incident. On arrival, the extend of the fire was determined and additional resources were drawn in from Mbekweni and Wellington fire stations, respectively.”
“Three pumpers and a water tanker were deployed with additional support vehicles. This included four crews and additional members with senior officers in respective areas and functions to manage the incident. Law enforcement, Traffic, SAPS and EMS all participated in the evacuation and scene control”, said Chief Els.
He added, “The fire was attacked from the initial source point while access was gained to the building at a side entrance. The fire on the ground floor was contained to the initial exposed room. The first floor of the outpatient section was compromised, as the fire moved through the roofing and HVAC system. The fire was contained to this section and spread to the main hospital prevented.”
“The fire was confined within the first two hours, mop-up, salvage, ventilation, etc. took some more hours.”
“No injuries were sustained or reported. Significant equipment loss on the first floor at the outpatient section was reported. Challenges faced included time delays in reporting of the fire, public vehicles obstructing the hospital entrance, rapid spread through the HVAC system; doors wedged open in emergency routes that worsened smoke and fire spread,” said Chief Els.
“Originally, the fire was reported as a vehicle fire on the premises. Later, investigation showed that the fire started in a public wastebin adjacent to a vehicle parked next to the hospital.”
Morné Dampies, a 35-year-old psychiatric patient at the facility, was arrested and charged with arson shortly after the incident. He appeared in the Paarl Magistrate’s Court on 29 January 2026. The matter was postponed to 5 February 2026 for bail information and a media application to record the proceedings.
Source: CFO Wynand Els, Manager: Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management, Drakenstein Municipailty; IOL
“Three pumpers and a water tanker were deployed with additional support vehicles. This included four crews and additional members with senior officers in respective areas and functions to manage the incident. Law enforcement, Traffic, SAPS and EMS all participated in the evacuation and scene control”, said Chief Els.
He added, “The fire was attacked from the initial source point while access was gained to the building at a side entrance. The fire on the ground floor was contained to the initial exposed room. The first floor of the outpatient section was compromised, as the fire moved through the roofing and HVAC system. The fire was contained to this section and spread to the main hospital prevented.”
“The fire was confined within the first two hours, mop-up, salvage, ventilation, etc. took some more hours.”
“No injuries were sustained or reported. Significant equipment loss on the first floor at the outpatient section was reported. Challenges faced included time delays in reporting of the fire, public vehicles obstructing the hospital entrance, rapid spread through the HVAC system; doors wedged open in emergency routes that worsened smoke and fire spread,” said Chief Els.
“Originally, the fire was reported as a vehicle fire on the premises. Later, investigation showed that the fire started in a public wastebin adjacent to a vehicle parked next to the hospital.”
Morné Dampies, a 35-year-old psychiatric patient at the facility, was arrested and charged with arson shortly after the incident. He appeared in the Paarl Magistrate’s Court on 29 January 2026. The matter was postponed to 5 February 2026 for bail information and a media application to record the proceedings.
Source: CFO Wynand Els, Manager: Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management, Drakenstein Municipailty; IOL
