Fire in Bedford Street highlights problem with vandalised fire hydrants
Dispatching a fire truck where hydrants aren't functional wastes precious time.
A palm tree on Bedford Street near Shoprite Brakpan caught fire on Sunday, raising concerns about damage to the electrical cables next to it.
PR Clr Riaan van Zyl arrived on scene, concerned about damage to the cables, as well as the substation next door. The fire was around the corner from the Brakpan Fire Station, and firefighters tried to extinguish the fire using a nearby hydrant, but found that it was damaged due to vandalism.
A fire truck was dispatched, and according to Van Zyl, arrived within 15 minutes to douse the fire. No damage was caused other than to the palm tree, which now looks like a post with some twigs attached to the top, and is charred black.
It is alleged the fire was started by a drug user and then spread to the inside of the fenced-off area, where the tree caught alight.
Residents across the street have a different suspicion, however, due to the small pile of ash in their yard. They suspect the fire was set on purpose, by way of a “fire delivery system,” where a sheet of paper is lit and thrown into a yard to start a fire.
They allege the same was done on the other side of their yard a few months ago, and that it’s a frequent occurrence. In addition, they frequently observe drivers of taxis and other vehicles vandalising the hydrants in the area to gain access to the water, so they can wash their vehicles.
This creates a problem of hydrants being unusable to put out fires, like this one, necessitating the dispatch of a fire truck, which can take longer and put a strain on the limited resources.
If the fire was not extinguished in time, it could have caused damage to the substation causing a power outage in the area.
Residents are encouraged to report vandalism to hydrants or suspected “fire delivery” to authorities.
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