Industrial fire exposes Joburg again on lacking resources for Firefighters 

12 May 2016

A battery storage facility in Kyalami Commercial Park went up in flames Monday evening in Midrand and sounds of explosions were heard by residents from a distance. 

Although the JMPD and firefighters from the City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Management Services attended to the scene, the fire rescue operation did not run smoothly. 

The nearest fire stations did not have fire engines to dispatch to the scene and fire engines which did arrive had no proper equipment, with pipes leaking and pump malfunctioning. 

It is unacceptable that firefighters are expected to be able to contain an industrial fire without proper equipment and with minimal resources. 

The DA has continuously advocated the dire status of the City’s EMS and the bad state of the fire engine fleets.  

We have not seen any improvements, instead, I am reminded daily by residents and councilors with photos of burned family homes due to dysfunctional fire engines across the city. 

It is of great concern that with winter approaching, residents in informal settlements may be at a risk of minimal help, due to inefficient emergency services.  

The DA calls upon the residents of Johannesburg to be prepared for emergency situations, equip their homes with fire extinguishers and take the necessary precautions. 

I will also be writing to MMC for Public Safety in Johannesburg Sello Lemao and Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Paul Mashatile to urgently investigate the state of the fire engine fleet and equipment. 

Issued by Michael Sun, DA Shadow MMC for Public Safety, 12 May 2016