Photo via: Twitter / @jamesstyan
Caledon Hospital: Firefighters swiftly extinguished the fire on Thursday
A fire broke out at Caledon Provincial Hospital late on Thursday. Firefighters reacted quickly and managed to keep the damage to a minimum.
Photo via: Twitter / @jamesstyan
Another fire broke out in the Western Cape this week following the devastating Cape Town fire that started on Sunday, 18 April. A fire started at a hospital in the town of Caledon in the Overberg, approximately 100 kilometres from Cape Town, late on Thursday, 22 April.
FIRE BREAKS OUT AT CALEDON PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL
According to James-Brent Styan, the spokesperson for Western Cape MEC of Local Government Anton Bredell, a fire started at Caledon Provincial Hospital at 22:00 on Thursday.
Local emergency responders reacted quickly and patients were swiftly moved to safety.
Fire engines from three municipalities — Overberg Fire Rescue, Caledon, Grabouw and Bredasdorp Fire Stations — were dispatched to battle blaze and they successfully contained the fire to only a single ward after just a few minutes of firefighting.
No patients or staff were hurt by the fire. “By midnight all patients were back in unaffected wards. Incredible effort,” said Styan.
The origin of the fire is still a mystery and the matter is under investigation, according to the department.@
LATEST FIRE COMES JUST DAYS AFTER CHARLOTTE MAXEKE HOSPITAL BURNT
On Friday, 16 April, a fire broke out at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Unfortunately, the blaze reignited after firefighters thought that had it contained.
Hundreds of patients were forced to evacuate the facility, which is one of Gauteng’s most important hospitals.
No patients were injured in that fire too but Gauteng Premier David Makhura imposed a seven day suspension on operations at the hospital as a precaution. The hospital’s dispensary was one of the notable buildings damaged in the fire.
Following the blaze, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) said an investigation into the reason the fire broke out must take place, it was especially concerned about the hospital’s safety measures.
Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize said that PPE worth approximately R40 million was destroyed by the fire, which is concerning as the country is still in the midst of a pandemic.
