Two
people have succumbed to their injuries following a fire and series of
explosions that occurred in Woodstock on Thursday. Ward
councillor, Angus McKenzie, confirmed the news, saying the owner along with the
co-worker passed away at Groote Schuur Hospital on Saturday.
Meanwhile,
the City of Cape Town revealed that the Woodstock explosion that occurred on
Thursday evening was due to a gas leak. In
a statement, the City said preliminary investigations indicate that the fire
was caused by a gas leakage, after 2x 48kg gas bottles were found inside the premises.
According
to the City's by-law, this is in contravention as it only allows for 19kg’s of
canisters, and if installed and used correctly and operated under a valid
Certificate of Compliance.
PICTURE: City of Cape Town
“The
gas canisters were themselves still in tact, but evidence suggests that gas was
possibly been used for basic cooking purposes after a 2 plate gas cooker was
found towards the back of the shop in close proximity to the canisters,” said
mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith.
“It
is believed that due to the increased pressure of the larger canisters, a leak
could have developed and since gas is heavier than air, it is believed that the
gas created a “blanket” that crept along the floor until the shop had become
completely saturated, including soaking the clothes of the 2 victims unbeknown
to them, as they were standing behind a counter close to the entrance of the
shop,” he added.
PICTURE: City of Cape Town
The City’s Fire & Rescue Safety division speculated
that ignitions would have come from any of the induction motors used to drive
the refrigeration equipment, which would have then ignited the pocket of gas
that had filled the premises.
“With the sudden expansion of mass resulting,
the windows and shop front exploded out to the street, followed by debris from
inside the shop.”
“Due to the coincidental design of the shop
front where aluminum and glass was fixed between the structural pillars, it
caused the softer material to be forced outwards allowing the pressure to
easily escape, while leaving the structural pillars and formwork of the
building undamaged,” added Smith.
PICTURE: City of Cape Town
Furthermore, it was revealed that the
neighbouring take-aways shop was not affected by the fire and has suffered only
smoke damage, with slight damage to a dividing wall, but no structural damage
evident.
“While the scene has been handed over to SAPS
for further investigation, the City of Cape Town's Fire Safety division does
undertake compliance inspections where complaints are received from the public.
To date, no complaints were received for fire safety related aspects for the
premises in question,” said mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith.
Smith appealed to property owners to comply
with the law.
“ The importance of fire safety remains an
important aspect for all property owners to consider, and likewise the tenants
that operate such properties. Safety requirements as stipulated within the
SANS10087 manual, as well as the City of Cape Town Community Fire Safety by-law
applies to all.”
“Fire safety is everyone's responsibility. If
you should suspect any person or establishment operating in a manner that can
jeopardize their own safety or that of another, you are encouraged to please
report the matter to the City of Cape Town's Public Emergency Call Centre on
021-480 7700, he added.
Done By: Mitchum George
