A fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday 22 January at a booking office and kiosk located in Beach Road at the Old Harbour in Gordon’s Bay.
According to Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service, the emergency call was received at about 02:05. Firefighting crews from Strand and Sir Lowry’s Pass Fire Station responded with two fire engines and a water tanker.
“This was a shop used to sell fishing tackle and cold drinks/chips, and it was completely destroyed,” said Carelse. “No-one was injured in the incident. The fire was extinguished around 03:20 and the cause has not been determined.”
The fire completely destroyed the shop, which also served as a booking office for Playa Cruises. It was only rubble that was left behind.
Thami Mchunu, spokesperson for the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, confirmed that there was fire at one of the tenants. “Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused by an electrical fault sparked by one of the machines on the premises.
The investigation into the incident is continuing,” he said. The owner of the shop expressed devastation. “We are not sure what happened, everything seems to have been lost.”
