Ashes and smoke left in the wake of Sebenza fire
“When I arrived and walked towards the blaze, it looked like a war zone.”
A blazing inferno has left ruin and destruction in its wake after it spread through an industrial office park in Sebenza.
Factories lie burnt out, collapsed and in shambles.
Twisted hulks of metal and broken walls lie where businesses once stood.
The smell of burnt plastic hangs fresh in the air as business owners pick up the pieces of their companies and decide what to do next.
One would expect this is a scene straight out of an action movie but these are the after effects of a fire which started on May 13 on an Aitken Road property.
Also Read: Fire destroys packaging factory in Sebenza
When the NEWS visited the property two days after the fire, the remains of the businesses were still smouldering.
A Greenstone Hill resident, who did not wish to be named, said when he was at the Total Service Station on Laurie Road at 8.30pm he could see the fire burning already.
According to the resident police officers, security companies and firefighters started arriving on the scene between 8.30pm and 9.30pm.
Donavan Stephens, managing director of VCP Industries, an affected business, said when he first arrived at the scene of the fire on May 13 he was shocked by what he saw.
Also read: #SebenzaFire – Emergency services come to the rescue as Sebenza fire blazes through the night
“When I arrived and walked towards the blaze it looked like a war zone.”
Stephens said that community members were running around while firefighters were trying to do their job.
“From what I have been told by other people the fire started at about 8pm,” said Stephens.
“I am just happy that none of my staff members was injured during the fire.”
Despite Stephens’ thankfulness, he said he does not know how to feel about the fire.
“You can’t put any emotion to what happened,” he explained.
Also read: UPDATE: #SebenzaFire emergency services are still on scene
Stephens said although he is thankful for the firefighters who attended the scene, he was disappointed to see the firefighters using a damaged hose on the night of the fire.
“One of the hoses was just leaking water all over the place.”
Walking through the business complex towards other affected businesses salvageable stock had been taken out of some businesses.
Firefighters monitored the scene and tended to small fires which sprang up as the ashes continued to smoulder.
Les Roberts, the owner of Board Timber Traders, said the fire left him feeling quite disappointed.
“I’m not feeling great. The fire burnt our machines and our stock,” said Roberts.
In the aftermath of the fire, the NEWS was told that five businesses were affected by the fire.
Stephens said his next step is to pick up the pieces and let the company’s insurance do their thing.
“There is no manual for how to deal with this kind of thing.”
