A bride never forgets but one wedding will have a unique memory to add to the photo album.
The exchanging of vows is a momentous day in the life of any married couple but one wedding party was forced to cut the celebrations short after a fire broke out in the restaurant section of a popular wedding venue on Sunday afternoon, September 11. While the fire did not affect the chapel or halls used for the weddings, the restaurant of the venue sustained significant damage.
Calls for assistance began coming from the venue shortly after 16:30 with volunteer first responders, Community Group Fire Association (CGFA), first on scene at roughly 17:00. Three fire engines from City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (CoJEMS) followed shortly behind and together the crews successfully brought the blaze under control.
One witness and member of the wedding party noted how the fire began in the kitchen area of the restaurant.
“This was a challenging fire as access to the involved area was non-existent. Thanks to the collective effort from the staff and CGFA we made a plan to gain access as close as possible to the area of concern,” stated CGFA via their Facebook page.
Volunteer medical responders, ComMed, as well as ER24 and VitalMed treated several people around the restaurant for smoke inhalation, with at least three people transported to hospital for further care.
CoJEMS spokesperson, Robert Mulaudzi confirmed, saying, “So far we have not had any reports of serious injuries and the cause of the fire is still subject to investigations.”
The wedding party was evacuated into the parking lot without incident, with some suggesting the celebrations could have continued due to the proximity away from the area affected by fire.
Although disappointed, the bride was still in good spirits and was happy that her guests were safe, extending her sympathies to anyone who may have been harmed during the fire incident.
