The blaze originally started in the yard around 13:30 when recycling plastic in the yard caught fire.

The official cause of the fire is not yet known.

According to William Ntladi, spokesperson for EMS, the blaze was mostly knocked down by 15:00 and they are in the process of wetting down the plastic to prevent further fires.

Seven fire trucks responded to the blaze.

The trucks are from Wadeville, Hlahatsi, Thokoza and from Vosloorus respectively.

Twenty-eight emergency personnel attended to the fire including three station managers and four shift managers. Sentinel, Gridhawk and CPS Security are also on scene.

No one was injured in the fire.

According to the City of Ekurhuleni, it has been experiencing serious industrial fires within a short space of time.

“A lot of us know the most basic fire safety tips, but not everyone has as much fire safety knowledge as they could,” said William Ntladi, district manager media liaison for DEMS.

“In the workplace it’s important and imperative that everyone is on the same page when it comes to fire safety policies and procedures.”

Fire can cause damage, injury and in extreme cases, death can occur. Therefore, it is important that all employees understand fire prevention techniques and its reactivity.

Emergency and evacuation plans are important to prevent further damages or issues if there’s a fire. It’s important that if someone needs to call for help, they know what to do, how to easily find the building and what the next steps should be.

Fire prevention is just as important after a fire has already started because it can reduce the risk of it spreading, which can lead to more damages. 

Safety tips for fire prevention include:

• Keep workplaces clean and tidy; waste left lying around is a source of fuel for a fire.

• Keep flammable substances (fuel) and ignition sources (heat) apart.

• Do not smoke in the workplace. Use designated smoking places.

• Do not leave food cooking unmonitored.

• Avoid using naked flames unless necessary.

• Install smoke and fire detecting systems. 

• Avoid the self-connection of electrical machinery and appliances.

• Firefighting equipment should be installed in accordance to building fire safety regulations. Different fire extinguishers placed in accordance to different risks factors.

• Chemicals should be stored in a closed environment and avoid mixing. 

• Doors and corridors should be unobstructed.