Man’s lower legs burned in diesel fire in Pomona
The reservoir tank contained about 6 000 litres of diesel.
A man suffered burns to his lower legs when a diesel reservoir tank caught fire at a transport company in Pomona on Tuesday evening.
It is believed the man tripped while lifting a portable motorised hydraulic pump, which caused petrol to spill from the small tank, said William Ntladi, spokesperson for Ekurhuleni emergency services.
The motorised pump burst into flames, which resulted in diesel in a hose igniting. The fire then spread to a nearby main diesel reservoir tank, which also caught fire. The reservoir tank contained about 6 000 litres of diesel.
Ntladi said Farrarmere firefighters responded to the call around 6.20pm to the company on West Road. Prior to arrival, backup was summoned from Kempton, Tembisa and Boksburg fire stations.
The crews battled the blaze and managed to extinguish it after the arrival of a third water tanker from Primrose Fire Station. No other damage was caused except for a truck which was parked nearby which had minimal patches of heat damage to its body.
The patient was given medical treatment on scene before being transported to Tembisa Hospital, said Ntladi.
Investigations into the fire had been launched.
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