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7 July 2023
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Ekurhuleni crew respond to factory fire in Spartan; tons of Ethanol involved
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A fire broke out at a factory dealing with printing inks and coatings, including Ethanol-based products in Spartan, Ekurhuleni on Monday afternoon, 3 July 2023. William Ntladi, district manager media liaison at the City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) said, “fire fighters received the call of a well-alight factory fire at 33 Loper Street in Spartan at 14h33.
“Kempton Park, Commercia and Edenvale fire fighters responded promptly to the address for intervention. Primary responders from Kempton Park Fire Station turned out to the scene with a water tanker and grass fire unit fire engines augmented by six fire fighters. Commercia crew were six as well using one industrial major pumper while crews from Edenvale Fire Station responded with rescue tender manned by six personnel as well”, said Ntladi.
He added, “On arrival, the workshop of the Siegwerk company dealing mainly with alcohol-based material such as printing inks and coatings, was well alight. Flames were already protruding through the roof section as roofing material had caved in already. Fire suppression was initiated from two different opposite sides using 45mm diameter hoses. Most of the burning material was Ethanol contained in different size containers ranging from 20 litres to 1 000 litre capacities. Estimated amount of fuel in weight that caught alight were tons.”
“Fire fighting crews connected directly from the two different fire hydrants. Flames were extinguished without any injuries to the crews. Only one employee of the factory was identified to have suffered superficial burn wounds on his Left hand while trying to extinguish the fire prior to the arrival of the fire fighters. He was hospitalised at Arwyp Hospital after being transported by ER-24 ambulance medics.”
The cause of the fire is alleged to have been started by a spark in the workshop, however, more in-depth investigation continues.
Source: William Ntladi, district manager media liaison: Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS)
“Kempton Park, Commercia and Edenvale fire fighters responded promptly to the address for intervention. Primary responders from Kempton Park Fire Station turned out to the scene with a water tanker and grass fire unit fire engines augmented by six fire fighters. Commercia crew were six as well using one industrial major pumper while crews from Edenvale Fire Station responded with rescue tender manned by six personnel as well”, said Ntladi.
He added, “On arrival, the workshop of the Siegwerk company dealing mainly with alcohol-based material such as printing inks and coatings, was well alight. Flames were already protruding through the roof section as roofing material had caved in already. Fire suppression was initiated from two different opposite sides using 45mm diameter hoses. Most of the burning material was Ethanol contained in different size containers ranging from 20 litres to 1 000 litre capacities. Estimated amount of fuel in weight that caught alight were tons.”
“Fire fighting crews connected directly from the two different fire hydrants. Flames were extinguished without any injuries to the crews. Only one employee of the factory was identified to have suffered superficial burn wounds on his Left hand while trying to extinguish the fire prior to the arrival of the fire fighters. He was hospitalised at Arwyp Hospital after being transported by ER-24 ambulance medics.”
The cause of the fire is alleged to have been started by a spark in the workshop, however, more in-depth investigation continues.
Source: William Ntladi, district manager media liaison: Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS)
