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4 August 2023
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Major tanker fire causes spill and subsequent grass fires on NI highway close to Bloemfontein
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A tanker with 39 000-litre paraffin overturned on the N1 highway near Bloemfontein on Tuesday, 11 July 2023 at approximately 20h15. Braam van Zyl of Mangaung Fire Department said “The driver and assistant ran to safety. The accident occurred within the municipal borders of Bloemfontein in the proximity of Langenhovenpark residential area west of the N1 as well as the Universitas Rif residential area east of the N1.”
Van Zyl added, “Paraffin leaked out onto the burning wreckage and flowed into the drainage system of the city. Heavy traffic was experienced on the N1 at the time.”
After the catastrophic event at Boksburg, all stakeholders and members of the public experienced a heightened sense of panic.
“The fire brigade arrived on scene within 15 minutes of dispatch and commenced fire extinguishing. In the meantime, the following occurred: A VOC was formed with Julius Fleischman of Provincial Ambulance College as the scene incident commander. With the aid of the traffic section, South African Police Service (SAPS), various neighbourhood watch associations and private security firms the N1 was closed both sides of the scene, and traffic was rerouted through the city.
Residence near the scene were evacuated,” said Van Zyl.
He added, “Crowd control had to be done as hundreds of bystanders rushed to the scene. Regular media releases occurred keeping the media informed. Neighbourhood Watch members assisted by taking drone photographs to provide feedback to the VOC.”
“As it was feared that the tanker would explode, medical and emergency service were placed on call. The following services were on standby at the scene:
“The following hospitals were on standby:
“Twelve fire fighters, two fire engines and a utility vehicle were used to subdue the fire by means of foam application in a three-and-a-half-hour operation. We utilised two water tankers to supply water.”
The driver and assistant were hospitalised for light injuries.
“The paraffin that flowed into the drainage system reached the historic ‘Dam van Trane’ about a kilometre from the scene and spontaneously started burning. Grass fires were subsequently ignited and neighbourhood watch grass units extinguished these fires. A fire engine also had to be utilised at a later stage to drench the fires with foam.”
“After the fire was extinguished, a company was contracted to clean the road and to remove the wreckage. The N1 was only re-opened for traffic the following day.”
Source: Braam van Zyl, divisional officer, Mangaung Fire Department
Van Zyl added, “Paraffin leaked out onto the burning wreckage and flowed into the drainage system of the city. Heavy traffic was experienced on the N1 at the time.”
After the catastrophic event at Boksburg, all stakeholders and members of the public experienced a heightened sense of panic.
“The fire brigade arrived on scene within 15 minutes of dispatch and commenced fire extinguishing. In the meantime, the following occurred: A VOC was formed with Julius Fleischman of Provincial Ambulance College as the scene incident commander. With the aid of the traffic section, South African Police Service (SAPS), various neighbourhood watch associations and private security firms the N1 was closed both sides of the scene, and traffic was rerouted through the city.
Residence near the scene were evacuated,” said Van Zyl.
He added, “Crowd control had to be done as hundreds of bystanders rushed to the scene. Regular media releases occurred keeping the media informed. Neighbourhood Watch members assisted by taking drone photographs to provide feedback to the VOC.”
“As it was feared that the tanker would explode, medical and emergency service were placed on call. The following services were on standby at the scene:
- Netcare 911 with RV + 2 AMB
- Life Rosepark with RV
- ER 24 with RV and 2 AMB
- VR MED with 1 AMB
- Provicial with 1 AMB.”
“The following hospitals were on standby:
- Medi – Clinic 6 beds
- Life Rosepark 3 beds
- Busamed 4 Resus
- Pelenomi Trauma 16 beds
- Netcare Pelenomi 4 beds
- Netcare Universitas 2 beds”
“Twelve fire fighters, two fire engines and a utility vehicle were used to subdue the fire by means of foam application in a three-and-a-half-hour operation. We utilised two water tankers to supply water.”
The driver and assistant were hospitalised for light injuries.
“The paraffin that flowed into the drainage system reached the historic ‘Dam van Trane’ about a kilometre from the scene and spontaneously started burning. Grass fires were subsequently ignited and neighbourhood watch grass units extinguished these fires. A fire engine also had to be utilised at a later stage to drench the fires with foam.”
“After the fire was extinguished, a company was contracted to clean the road and to remove the wreckage. The N1 was only re-opened for traffic the following day.”
Source: Braam van Zyl, divisional officer, Mangaung Fire Department
