{"id":296285,"date":"2026-01-21T17:00:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/?p=296285"},"modified":"2026-01-21T17:00:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:00:05","slug":"photos-emergency-services-battle-massive-fire-at-strandfoam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/photos-emergency-services-battle-massive-fire-at-strandfoam\/","title":{"rendered":"PHOTOS: Emergency services battle massive fire at Strandfoam"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Large
Large flames spewed massive columns of black smoke from the Broadlands Road industrial area. Photos: Yaseen Gaffar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A major fire broke out this afternoon (Wednesday 21 January) at a leading Helderberg-based South African foam-product manufacturer and stockist located in Broadlands Road, Strand, sending towering plumes of thick, toxic black smoke across the entire basin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fire have often raged at Strandfoam, including one in 2022 <\/a>and another one in 2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local emergency services headed directly to Strandfoam and were battling the inferno, which was severely exacerbated by strong winds lashing the area. The smoke, visible particularly from Macassar and Somerset West, sparked significant concern among local residents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traffic officers cordoned off Broadlands Road to allow firefighting equipment access, and the public was urged to avoid the area and keep their windows closed due to the dense smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No injuries had yet been reported, even though the high winds continued to pose a challenge for crews working to prevent the flames from spreading to neighbouring industrial properties.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a developing story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Thick, chemical-laden smoke blankets the area, seen here drifting toward nearby residential neighborhoods.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Many residents from nearby watched closely as the fire raged.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The scene of the fire at Strand Foam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Multiple fire have broken out at Strand Foam over the years.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The smoke cloud as seen from the N2 highway, causing rubbernecking and slow-moving traffic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Multiple fire engines and emergency vehicles line Broadlands Road as crews coordinate their attack on the fire.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A major fire broke out this afternoon (Wednesday 21 January) at a leading Helderberg-based South African foam-product manufacturer and stockist located in Broadlands Road, Strand, sending towering plumes of thick, toxic black smoke across the entire 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flames spewed massive columns of black smoke from the Broadlands Road industrial area.","article_media_icon":"1","article_template":"news","author_byline":"Yaseen Gaffar","background_color":"","block_editor":"1","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"PHOTOS: Emergency services battle massive fire at Strand 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While the blaze was successfully contained the operation was marred by difficult weather and a hostile group of bystanders.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The cause of the fire at Strandfoam has not yet been determined. 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