Hyde Park house gutted while firefighters hunt for hydrant Spotlight on faulty fire hydrants and shortage of fire engines in Joburg Firefighters at the scene of a house fire in Hyde Park, Johannesburg. Image: Suburban Control Centre/Facebook
A fire in the upmarket Johannesburg suburb of Hyde Park that gutted a home has shone a spotlight on faulty fire hydrants and the shortage of fire engines in the city.
The house was severely damaged last week while the city’s fire department struggled to find a nearby hydrant with enough pressure to fill its fire engine tank.
The Sandton fire station was called for assistance but it did not have a fire engine. One stationed in Alexandra responded to the emergency.
Quality of safety inspections questioned after Charlotte Maxeke Hospital fire People who were there on the night of the fire have told Eyewitness News that it appeared that the sprinklers at the hospital were not working and also claiming that smoke control doors in passageways appeared to have been removed. A fire broke out at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg on Friday, 16 April 2021. Picture: Twitter/@GautengHealth
2 hours ago
JOHANNESBURG - Independent experts have raised serious concerns about the quality of safety inspections at old buildings following the fire that broke out at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital.
People who were there on the night of the fire have told Eyewitness News that it appeared that the sprinklers at the hospital were not working and also claiming that smoke control doors in passageways appeared to have been removed.
Firefighters question Charlotte Maxeke Hospital s fire response plan ewn.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ewn.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Charlotte Maxeke Hospital fire destroyed medical supplies, PPE worth R40m 20 April 2021 - 18:01 Health minister Zweli Mkhize visited Charlotte Maxeke Hospital on Tuesday to assess the extent of damage caused by the fire and discuss the recovery plan for the hospital. He was accompanied by various people and hospital staff. Image: ALON SKUY
Health minister Zweli Mkhize said on Tuesday the fire that saw nearly 700 patients evacuated from Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital had also destroyed more than R40m worth of medical stock and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Mkhize was speaking during a visit to the closed hospital to assess the extent of damage caused by the blaze on Friday and to discuss a recovery plan.