Busamed Paardevlei Private Hospital is expected to be reopened by next week after a raging fire broke out at the Somerset West medical facility on Sunday (23 January) and forced closed its doors.
The incident was one of numerous fires in the Helderberg this past week and among 406 incidents responded to by the City of Cape Town’s fire and rescue services over the weekend.
According to Taryn Laas, Busamed Group Marketing Manager, the incident at the hospital occurred around 09:30 on Sunday when a fire broke out in the incoming low voltage (LV) room. Laas said smoke alarms were immediately triggered and staff responded timeously.
“The senior nurse on duty alerted the local fire brigade and hospital management and followed procedures in accordance with our disaster management plan,” stated Laas. “The fire was swiftly attended to and was brought under control by the local authorities.”
Spokesperson Jermaine Carelse confirmed the City’s fire and rescue services’ response to the fire, saying firefighting crews from Strand and Sir Lowry’s Pass were dispatched. “Officers confirmed an electrical box alight in a room which houses generators. They managed to extinguish the fire with an extinguisher and ventilated the area,” he said.
According to Laas, hospital management immediately consulted with relevant authorities on the re-establishment of municipal power to the hospital. However, they were advised that due to the damage caused to the LV room, some time would be needed for repairs. “A preliminary investigation has revealed that a power factor connector was burnt and needs to be replaced,” she said.
Laas further divulged that simultaneous consultation was made with surrounding medical treatment facilities and a decision was made to transfer all patients to Mediclinic Vergelegen to ensure their continuity of care. She said a total of 42 were transferred safely and without incident.
“The hospital is closed for the necessary repairs to take place, and expected to open on Monday (31 January), provided there’s no critical issues identified during the repair.”
She also expressed their collective gratitude toward the Mediclinic team for their support and prompt response to this incident, as well as the Busamed patients and their families for their understanding and co-operation during the transfer process. “We would also further like to thank all of our doctors, staff and the community for all their rapid response, assistance and support,” she added.
Firefighters also responded to:
- A veld fire on an open field adjacent to Gerber Boulevard at the Gants Centre which blanketed the surroundings with plumes of smoke, and threatened neighbouring businesses before it was quickly extinguished.
According to City spokesperson Jermaine Carelse, the City’s fire and rescue service was alerted to a vegetation fire at 12:30 last Thursday (20 January). “Fire crews from Strand and Somerset West attended to the scene. The fire was extinguished at 14:05 and the cause is unknown,” he said.
Surrounding business owners have cautioned that vagrants often start fires to burn copper or tyres, but a perpetrator is yet to be caught in the act.
- Several informal structures which were burnt to the ground in a blaze in Lwandle last Friday (21 January).
“An emergency call at 15:18 of informal structures alight just off Onverwacht Road. Fire crews from Macassar, Mfuleni, Kuils River, Belhar and Somerset West were on scene with five firefighting appliances and 21 firefighters. Several structures were destroyed. The fire was extinguished at 17:30 and the cause is unknown,” said Carelse.
