Germiston emergency services respond to industrial factory fire

Ekurhuleni Fire Services from Germiston, along with support from Vosloorus and Albertina stations, responded to a massive industrial factory fire late on Tuesday night.

The call was received at 22:24 and upon arrival, firefighters found the building engulfed in flames, with fire spreading rapidly to neighboring structures.

“Flames were intruding through the roof, and the fire was threatening nearby buildings,” said DEMS media liaison Eric Maloka.

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“The neighboring structures were defensively protected just in time to prevent further damage.”

Fire crews launched an offensive attack, containing the fire and beginning damping down operations. Water was sourced from a nearby hydrant and relayed to four major pumpers, with additional support from three piercing nozzles for fire suppression.

One machinery operator sustained severe burn wounds during the incident and was transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire was caused by an explosion in the factory, where the operator was working on a furnace burning tyres.

The exact cause of the explosion is under investigation. Authorities have urged businesses to ensure strict adherence to safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.