City sets up mobile clinic for victims of Garstkloof landfill fire
Officials urge the public not to panic
A mobile clinic has been set up at the Erasmuskloof fire station to help residents affected by the raging fire at the Gartskloof landfill site, the Tshwane metro announced.
Heaps of compost started smouldering on Sunday evening, emitting a plume of smoke that has since blanketed the neighbouring suburbs.
“Two compost heaps were opened up to extinguish the fire throughout the night. The strong windy conditions are hampering our efforts to douse the fire swiftly,” the city said in a statement.
Though the cause of the fire was yet to be established, the city suspected it was spontaneous combustion of waste.
“This is caused by a combination of a high temperature in the belly of a waste heap and the heat wave on Sunday.”
According to city, the fire spread through all the compost heaps at the site due to the intense heat and strong winds.
Acting Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink said he understood the situation was causing anxiety to the neighbouring homeowners.
“We appeal to the nearby residents not to panic,” Brink said.
ALSO READ: Garstkloof fire still blazing
“We’ve set up a mobile health facility at the the fire station for anyone affected by smoke inhalation arising from the fire at the landfill.”
Brink said the metro would set up tents at Sports Park in Kruger Street, Lyttleton and Centurion to accommodate residents who wanted to escape possible smoke inhalation.
The city said a team of various emergency services were working together to stabilise the fire.
“Our agriculture and environmental management department will conduct an assessment of all the landfill sites of this nature to prevent this happening again and also to test our fire readiness,” he said.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Battle with Garstkloof fire ongoing
Brink said he anticipated the fire would be out by Monday, 13 November.
“We will intensify our efforts in the coming days to extinguish it,” he said.
Residents of Pretoria East were advised to close windows and doors to limit smoke inhalation. Children and the elderly, particularly those with respiratory conditions, must remain indoors.
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