Firefighters tackle early-morning blaze in Johannesburg CBD
Emergency Management Services firefighters on scene after an early-morning fire at a multi-storey building at the corner of Bree and Harrison streets in the Johannesburg CBD.
Image: City of Johannesburg EMS
Emergency Management Services (EMS) firefighters responded to a fire at the corner of Bree and Harrison streets in the Johannesburg CBD at about 3 am on Friday.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the fire started on the ground floor of a 16-storey mixed-use building comprising residential and commercial sections and did not spread to other floors.
Fire crews carried out swift suppression operations and successfully extinguished the blaze.
EMS teams remain on scene conducting damping-down operations to prevent any possible re-ignition, with smoke still visible at the site.
A large transformer located on the ground floor is suspected to have caused the fire, although the exact cause will be confirmed following a full investigation once all emergency operations have been concluded.
No injuries were reported.
Emergency Management Services firefighters on scene after an early-morning fire at a multi-storey building at the corner of Bree and Harrison streets in the Johannesburg CBD.
Image: City of Joburg EMS
Earlier this week, IOL reported that three people were injured after a room collapsed, caused by a transformer fire in New Doornfontein in Johannesburg.
The City of Johannesburg EMS said the incident took place on Monday morning at around 6 am at Lower Railway Road, at the corner of Staib Street.
EMS spokesperson Xolile Khumalo said emergency personnel arrived to find an electrical box on fire and immediately began firefighting operations.
“The transformer was housed in a small utility storage room."
“The explosion allegedly resulted in the collapse of the room and an adjoining boundary wall.”
While some social media posts suggested a building collapse and earlier reports blamed a gas explosion, EMS confirmed the fire was electrical in origin.
According to her, all nearby residents have been accounted for.
IOL News