The fire spread quickly to a nearby file storage container, damaging it and destroying the majority of the files believed to be the property of the municipality’s budget and treasury department. Some of the saved documents were badly damaged by water from the fire hoses of firefighters.
The blaze, which started behind the municipal offices, is believed to have been set off by oil and machinery stored in the building. The fire is believed to have started on Tuesday evening and due to its intensity, it flared up again inside the building at around 9am on Wednesday.
According to EMLM spokesperson Lonwabo Kowa, security guards raised the alarm about the fire at 10pm. “By the time fire fighters arrived at the scene, the fire was already out of control. The store- room contained old and dilapidated material ranging from old files, furniture and electricity infrastructure. It spread through to a container which is used for keeping files,” said Kowa.
“Some of the files were saved with the help of firefighters. The municipality will report the incident to the SAPS. At this juncture, the cause of fire is not known. The incident will also be reported to the insurer,” Kowa said.
This incident is one of a few municipal buildings or property that caught fire in recent years, including the Sandringham Sports Club, the Town Hall, the art gallery, budget and treasury offices and the building that houses the Integrated Planning Economic Development offices.
ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA
