Addington fires raise sabotage suspicions
There were no casualties as a result of the fire or smoke.
TWO fire incidents at Addington Hospital on Thursday suspected of being sabotage.
According to the Department of Health, the first fire broke out on the 7th floor around 7.30am in the morning and the second fire on the 10th floor around 2.30pm in the afternoon. Both fires appear to have been caused in a similar fashion raising suspicious that they may be related acts of sabotage.
It is alleged that the fires occurred in fire escape routes where piles of plastics filled with garbage were kept for collection next to the lifts. On both floors, the fires were contained by security personnel and other hospital staff. There were no casualties as a result of the fire or smoke, except for smoke residue on the walls. Normal hospital operations were not disrupted.
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KZN Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo visited Addington Hospital on Thursday and said the suspicion of sabotage was not far-fetched when one considered the similarity in how both fires occured.
“A case of arson has been opened at Point Police Station. We want the perpetrators to be arrested for gambling with people’s lives and compromising patient safety. The Department will also improve security at Addington and other hospitals. We are doing our utmost to ensure that the provision of healthcare services for patients who need critical care continues in a safe environment,” said Dhlomo.
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