Massive fire breaks out in Pta West factory
Several high-voltage transformers that were either completed or near completion were destroyed by the fire.
A massive fire broke out at an electrical transformer manufacturing factory in Pretoria West on Sunday afternoon.
The fire broke out at SGB-Smit Power Matla at around 17:00.
Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Charles Mabaso said firefighters, however, managed to save the factory from being completely destroyed by the fire.
“A district commander in the Fire and Rescue Operations division saw a cloud of dark smoke in the direction of the Pretoria West industrial area while driving with her command aide from a house fire in West Park,” Mabaso said.
“She ordered her aide to drive in the direction of the smoke to investigate. Upon arrival, they discovered smoke and visible flames coming out of an industrial plant. She immediately ordered the dispatch of firefighting resources by radio to the emergency call centre.”
Mabaso said it was found that the fire had broken out in one of the 90 kVA transformers.
“It was also established that there were various hazardous and flammable substances of various quantities in the factory.”
He said that the firefighting crew tackled the fire on the south-western part of the building to prevent it from spreading to the eastern and south-eastern parts of the building.
“The northern part of the building has two 14 000-litre tanks of kerosene, two 33 000-litre tanks of transformer oil, and a 30 000-litre trailer tanker,” Mabaso said.
“The south-eastern part of the building has a core cutting plant and a small transformer manufacturing plant, which were saved from the blaze. Several high-voltage transformers that were either completed or near completion and a control room in the main plant were destroyed by the fire.”
He said that the fire was contained at around 18:30.
“Firefighters continued with operations until after midnight.”
The extent of the damage has not yet been determined and the cause of the transformer catching fire remains a subject of investigation.
Four people were treated on-site for smoke inhalation.
No injuries were reported.
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