Brakpan fire

Image via: @Abramjee / Twitter screenshot

Watch: Several businesses gutted during Brakpan fire

Up to seven businesses, as well as, a block of flats were damaged after a fire broke out in Brakpan early on Friday morning.

Brakpan fire

Image via: @Abramjee / Twitter screenshot

A raging fire in Brakpan, Gauteng has destroyed seven businesses on Friday morning 12 February 2021. The blaze almost gutted a block of flats too but firefighters were able to save it. 

WATCH: BRAKPAN FIRE DESTROYS MULTIPLE BUSINESSES 

Brakpan, a mining town in the Gauteng province, has made headlines after a vicious fire broke out on Kitzinger Street around 6:00 on Friday morning. Ekurhuleni EMS spokesperson William Ntladi told The South African that multiple stores and businesses were burnt down completely. When asked for a specific number, he said seven. 

Ntladi said the fire spread to a multi-storey block of residential flats in Brakpan as well, however, firefighters managed to control the blaze. The building was eventually saved, he said. 

Members from five fire stations were present at the scene and a total of nine fire engines were used. While the exact cause of the fire is being investigated, Ntladi said the fire is suspected to have started in one of the stores. He said one of the businesses sold furniture so the fire may have emanated from there. 

He went on to say that all the stores were still closed when the fire broke out. Luckily, there were no injuries or fatalities reported. 

CONVEYOR BELT AT KENDAL POWER STATION CATCHES FIRE 

Perhaps not in Brakpan but also on Friday morning, Eskom said a fire broke out on one of its conveyor belts, taking the ash out of the Kendal Power Station. 

“The fire was extinguished and there were no injuries. It has had no effect on the generation of electricity and the belt will be replaced today. Station continues to operate as normal,” said Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha. 

This comes hours after President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke of a more efficient power utility during his State of the Nation Address. 

“The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will soon be announcing the successful bids for 2 000 megawatts of emergency power. The necessary regulations have been amended and the requirements clarified for municipalities to buy power from independent power producers. Systems are being put in place to support qualifying municipalities.”

READ: All talk, but where’s the action? Ramaphosa has a new plan for Eskom