An investigation will be launched to determine the cause of the devastating fire that left a factory in ruins in Bloemfontein’s Hamilton Industrial Area on Wednesday afternoon.
A team of firefighters of the Mangaung Metro Municipality battled for hours to put out the fire that severely damaged Transformer Field Services’ factory in Ben Jones Street.
The fire engulfed the factory of the company, which specialises in doing oil purification on site, and even work underground. The company is to quantify the financial loss incurred due to the fire.
Ultimately, the team of firefighters managed to control the flames that threatened to cross over into adjacent factories.
Braam van Zyl, Mangaung fire chief, said while the fire was under control and being monitored for possible reoccurrence, it caused extensive damage to the factory. The flames were fanned by fierce winds.
Van Zyl confirmed that one employee had reportedly been hospitalised due to smoke inhalation, and there were no fatalities due to the fire.
“A forensic investigation will be launched to try to determine the cause of the fire,” said Van Zyl.
According to eyewitnesses, they noticed the fire at about 13:20.
“We first heard the huge bang of an explosion, and thereafter saw smoke coming from the other side of the building. Then we alerted people in adjacent factories about it,” said one of the employees of a nearby company.
The rampant fire was identified by thick smoke in the sky, hanging over parts of Bloemfontein. Members of the community who had gone to investigate the origin of the dark cloud of a smoke, watched on as the blaze engulfed the building.
