Municipality confirms link between Westmead fire and Umbilo pollution

INVESTIGATIONS are being conducted to establish the cause of a fire that destroyed a chemical warehouse in Westmead, Pinetown on Saturday, 8 February. Stoble Warehousing and Distribution, a logistics company in the chemical industry situated in the Mahogany Ridge Industrial Park in Goodwood Road, caught alight at around 6pm. The fire, which spread rapidly through the building, caused part of the structure to collapse.

Ken Beckwith, director of the company, which specialises in the transport and storage of hazardous and dangerous goods, confirmed that there were no injuries sustained in the fire. Beckwith, who could not divulge much information about the fire, said, “Investigations are being done to establish the cause of the fire. Until then, I cannot comment further on the issue.”

eThekwini Fire western division commander, Sbusiso Dlamini, said they responded to the fire at the chemical warehouse. Upon arrival they found the fire had engulfed most parts of the structure. “Flames, thick black smoke and explosions could be seen and heard from above the roof. Part of the roof and structure had collapsed. The warehouse contained a variety of chemicals, among them flammable liquids, flammable solids, corrosives, toxics, acids and many other dangerous goods that are classified as chemicals. It took almost one hour and 30 minutes to douse the flames. “However, fire brigades spent the whole night at the scene. The flames were still there on Sunday morning; however, they were contained. The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage. Our fire inspectors are still busy on scene and it will take days, if not months, for that information to be revealed,” said Dlamini.

Meanwhile, speculations that the fire was linked to the pollution in the Umbilo River on Sunday were confirmed by the eThekwini Municipality. Tozi Mthethwa, eThekwini Municipality’s communications head, said large volumes of water were used to extinguish the fire. This water mixed with chemicals that had been contained in drums on the site. The mixture entered the storm water drains before they could be sealed off.

This polluted water entered the Umbilo River and caused a lot of foam. Control measures, such as the sealing of the stormwater drains, are in place to prevent further polluted water from entering the Umbilo River, and a spill clean-up company is on site to clean-up any contaminated water. Officials from the municipality’s Pollution and Environment Branch, the National Department of Water and Sanitation and Environmental Affairs were on site and will continue to monitor the situation. The municipality is waiting for the toxicity analysis reports, which will indicate whether the chemicals present in the river water are harmful or not,” Mthethwa said.