A major fire broke out in Bofors Circle, Epping Industria 2, late on Thursday 5 December, causing significant damage to a bakery and nearby structures.
The emergency call came in at approximately 22:10, prompting a swift response from the City of Cape Town’s fire and rescue service.
According to Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the fire and rescue service, the blaze started in a bakery and quickly spread to adjacent buildings. “The first arriving officer made a quick assessment and called for additional resources to contain the blaze – almost 50 staff battled the fire during the course of the night and morning,” Carelse explained.
To manage the situation effectively, three firefighting divisions – Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie – were dispatched. The coordinated effort paid off when firefighters managed to contain the fire at around 00:20. However, the damage was extensive, and a building inspector was called to evaluate the structural integrity of the affected buildings, as the fire had compromised their walls.
Crews remained on-site for several hours, conducting periodic inspections to ensure no flare-ups occurred. The last of the teams withdrew from the premises just after 11:00 on Friday, but the property continued to be monitored.
Out of an abundance of caution, the fire safety division decided to cordon off the area.
“No one will be allowed to enter the premises until a structural engineer has made an assessment,” said Carelse.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident. Authorities have confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
