IN an ironic twist of fate, a distress flare normally set off to warn of danger at sea, almost burnt down the NSRI base in Richards Bay on New Year’s Eve.
Members of Sea Rescue Station 19 were seeing in the new year at the base when the skies erupted with flares and fireworks at midnight.
‘We watched one flare land on the roof of the building but were not too concerned as it is metal and the flare appeared to have stopped burning,’ said Station Commander Dorian Robertson.
‘It was only when one of our party went inside the building and saw it filled with smoke that we realised we had a fire.
‘Members ran for the fire hose and soon extinguished the blaze.
‘The flare had burnt through the roof and the insulation sheeting caught fire and burning pieces were falling onto the cement floor below.
‘Had the fire spread, it would have fallen onto our boats, which could have had disastrous consequences,’ said Robertson.
While the sky above Naval Island and Pelican Island was lit up by dozens of flares at midnight, Robertson questioned the common practice of igniting flares to herald the New Year.
‘There is a widespread belief that this is condoned as it is a time when old, potentially unstable flares can be discharged.
‘To my knowledge, this permission has never been granted and any firing of flares other than in a distress situation is illegal.
‘Flares, like fireworks, are dangerous explosive devices and anyone with flares they consider to be unstable should take them to the police station where experts can dispose of them in the proper manner.’
