DAMAGES of more than R80 million was caused by a fire in a Komani business park at the weekend.
The fire started in the early hours of Saturday at the Bowker Park business park in Creamery Road. A case of arson is being investigated by the police. This fire occured only two weeks after the Komani Town Hall was burnt to the ground.
One of the buildings which was destroyed in Saturday’s fire, was rented by the police and used as an office for supply chain management.
According to police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli, the fire was discovered at around 03:00, when a security guard went to investigate the activation of an alarm at the business park.
“On arriving at the scene, security guards found the majority of warehouses and offices in flames and they contacted the emergency services.
The police were informed that the damaged warehouses were used for the storage of stock for shops, including furniture and vehicles.
Jane Cowley, DA MPL and Enoch Mgijima constituency leader, said this was the fifth devastating fire in the town in recent months.
“The Fire Department remains incapable of rendering a fire-fighting service, as they have no functional vehicles and no equipment,” said Cowley.
“Once again, it was the residents themselves that rallied and transported water to the scene to try to douse the flames, at considerable risk to themselves. Sadly the buildings and all their contents were destroyed,” said Cowley.
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