Emergency services responded to a fire that raged through the night at a factory in Alrode on March 27.
Firefighters arrived at the scene on Charles Street around 9.15pm.
According to Eric Maloka, spokesperson for Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, the factory was already burning intensely when they arrived and they requested back up from other fire stations outside Alberton.
“The fire was discovered in a storage area for polymer and hydrogen peroxide,” said Maloka. “A defensive mode of attack was initiated to curb the fire spreading to surrounding buildings. Fires involving hydrogen peroxide are more intense than if fuel was burning with the normal concentration of oxygen.”
The storeroom was estimated to hold 90 20l cans of polymer and 6 000 liters of hydrogen peroxide.
A total of 22 firefighters battled through the night to contain the blaze. Foam was sprayed to isolate the fuel from oxygen. Their job was made more difficult by a collapsed roof that prevented access to the base of the fire.
By midnight all visible flames had been knocked down, but a reassessment of the scene found that smouldering hot spots under the debris could still cause problems. By 6am on March 28 the manpower on scene was scaled down to two major pumps with a water tanker. This water tanker would remain to ensure the scene remained contained.
According to Maloka, the cause of the fire is still unknown. Investigations by the fire and safety department of DEMS and other authorities will continue.
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