Cold store gutted
2005-10-06
A REFRIGERATED packing shed in Groot Drakenstein went up in flames on Tuesday, causing damage estimated at close to R4 million.
Contractors were busy with an angle grinder when the insulation caught alight. The interior of the building was being enlarged.
The highly flammable material, fanned by the air in the empty shed, left the enormous cold room gutted within 20 minutes.
While calls went out to the police and fire brigades, employees of Rhodes Food Group tried to douse the flames with fire extinguishers.
“Their fire-fighting equipment had been properly maintained,” a fire spokesman said.
“But still the fist extinguisher malfunctioned, and by the time the second extinguisher was at hand, it was already too late. The flames had taken hold of the insulation.”
Firemen from the Cape Winelands District Council and Drakenstein Municipality were on the scene within eight minutes of receiving the call for assistance. They managed to contain the blaze, but could not save the shed.
Two contract workers were slightly injured, as well as a Rhodes Food Group employee who ran into the shed to try to salvage his fork-lift.
“The damage is extensive,” said director Gerhard Kotze, “but we are thankful that no lives were lost."
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