After more than five days of continuous firefighting operations, the massive tyre factory blaze in Klerksoord, north of Pretoria, has finally been extinguished, Tshwane Emergency Services Department (ESD) confirmed.

The fire, which broke out on the afternoon of August 16, left behind a scene of destruction as emergency crews worked tirelessly around the clock to contain the inferno and prevent it from spreading to nearby properties.

According to EMS spokesperson Lindsay Mnguni, the flames were fully extinguished after extensive damping-down operations that stretched late into the fifth day.

“Our firefighters worked painstakingly under extremely challenging conditions. We are pleased to confirm that the fire is now completely out,” said Mnguni.

At the height of the fire, more than 57 firefighters, supported by seven command staff, were deployed to the scene. They were backed by a formidable fleet of specialised vehicles, including five water tankers, two fire engines, a ladder truck, a mobile command unit, a hazardous materials unit, and foam tenders.

Reinforcement also came from the metro’s Water and Sanitation Department, which provided additional water tankers to ensure a steady supply.

The operation was described as one of the most complex in recent years due to the nature of the fuel load.

Mnguni said tyres burn at extremely high temperatures and produce thick, toxic smoke, making suppression efforts especially difficult.

“Complicating matters further, many of the tyres melted together, forming massive four-metre-high heaps that trapped flames and smouldering embers beneath layers of rubber, wood, and scrap metal.

“To overcome these challenges, heavy machinery, including bulldozers and tractor-loader-backhoes (TLBs), was brought in to pull apart the burning piles, allowing firefighters to reach concealed hotspots and completely douse the fire,” he said.

While the firefighting phase has concluded, environmental rehabilitation remains a concern.

Mnguni confirmed that the Green Scorpions have been stationed on-site throughout the operations to monitor the impact of smoke and contaminated runoff water.

He said their role will continue during the clean-up to ensure that surrounding communities, soil, and water sources are protected.

“The unit is also collecting evidence for compliance and reporting purposes. One firefighter sustained a minor injury during the operations, but was treated on-site and did not require hospitalisation.”

Although the cause of the fire has not yet been established, investigations are underway.

Mnguni noted that the scale of the fire, which affected about 10 000 square metres of outdoor space, highlighted the risks associated with industrial stockpiles of tyres and other flammable materials.

“This was an incident that tested our capacity and resilience. Through co-ordination, persistence, and bravery, our crews were able to prevent a catastrophe from spreading further and ensure the safety of surrounding communities.”

The metro has also set the record straight regarding the firefighting operation at the tyre storage.

This comes after the DA accused the Tshwane metro of rejecting help from private firefighting companies that had offered to assist.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the municipality has a standing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with AfriForum that outlines areas of co-operation in specific circumstances.

“In this particular incident, the EMS had full capacity and ample resources to independently manage the firefighting operation.

“Contrary to claims made by the Sinoville Firefighting Association (SFFA), the firefighting at the site was conducted and completed solely by Tshwane Emergency Services,” said Mashigo.

He said the fire was fully extinguished by the metro’s teams without external firefighting intervention.

“It was only after the fire had been completely extinguished that AfriForum provided limited logistical assistance, specifically through the use of a TLB during the mop-up phase of operations.

“This was not part of the active firefighting effort but a post-extinguishing support measure. Any suggestion that Tshwane Emergency Services lacked capacity, equipment, or resources to deal with the incident is incorrect and misrepresents the facts,” he concluded.

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