PINETOWN and Westville firefighters responded to a fire today at the Ithala Power Centre in Lanner Road, New Germany.
The centre houses an eThekwini Municipality transformer and several businesses and shops. Tenants heard a loud noise, followed by smoke, at midday on October 20. Once the eThekwini Fire Department responded, the blaze was quickly brought under control.
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eThekwini Fire Department Divisional Commander SK Govender, who was on scene, said, ”We received a call at 12:15, saying a transformer was alight. When we arrived, we saw there was a lot of smoke, and we were unable to open the doors of the transformer. Our Communications Centre contacted the eThekwini Electricity Department, who are the keyholders, and then we cooled down the external doors – which we did very effectively. When they came, one door was opened, and we were able to extinguish the fire. A few minutes later, the second door was opened, and we were able to extinguish that fire, too. At this point, the fire is completely extinguished. We are carrying out salvage work, by ventilating and so forth.”
The Ward 18 councillor Melanie Brauteseth attended the scene on behalf of her constituents.
Brauteseth said, “This is devastating. The municipal meter room located here, which feeds a wide area, has blown. It was reported to me by a resident of our community, and I notified the municipality, who dispatched a team. This will be devastating to businesses who are already under pressure with load-shedding.”
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Brauteseth said that she will be contacting the head and deputy head of the Electricity Department to establish what the proposed plan is to repair the damaged transformer.
The ward councillor said, “I am hoping for a swift response and swift action. The main concern is how quickly this will be repaired so businesses can continue trading.”
The cause of the fire is unknown.
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