Lonehill Shopping Centre is currently closed following a fire in a restaurant this morning, October 25.

Ward 94 Councillor David Foley, who witnessed the fire, confirmed that it had been extinguished and that the Lonehill Fire Department had attended the scene.

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Foley said the fire started at around 08:30 and that he noticed smoke while filling potholes on Lonehill Boulevard and Lone Close, a road leading into the shopping centre.

“The restaurant caught fire. It was about 3m higher than the roof,” Foley said, describing the height to which the flames had risen.

He said people inside the shops were evacuated as a safety precaution while emergency services responded.

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“Everyone was evaluated, from those who were at the gym to those doing their normal shopping.”

Although the fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault, the cause has not yet been officially confirmed.

Foley also added that “The city of Joburg fire department team response time and actions were excellent.”

The shopping centre remains closed at the time of publication. Further updates will follow as more information becomes available.

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