According to the Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) spokesperson, William Ntladi, they were called out at around 1.50pm.
“On arrival at the scene the building was already on fire,” said Ntladi.
Afripallet specialises in timber packaging needs.
Due to the high risk more back up was summoned from the Boksburg Leon Ferreira Fire Station, Germiston Central and water tankers from Wadeville and Nigel.
According to Ntladi, the dry, hot and windy conditions on the day subjected the factory to spreading fire.
“Blazes were spreading at a very fast rate, hence crews on the ground had to initiate structural protection before turning their focus on the actual burning sawdust heaps,” he said.
“Around the factory premises, lots of combustible materials were also present which posed as a fuel for the fire.”
Ntladi said the fire allegedly started outside at the sawdust heaps before spreading towards the factory’s chimney.
“Resources were eventually down scaled immediately after the blaze was contained and extinguished.”
Ntladi said a vehicle did burn out before the arrival of the firefighting crews.
No injuries or fatalities were recorded on the scene. – @IschkeBoksburg
