Tshwane's response to Rosslyn tyre factory fire criticised

A PROBE is under way to establish the cause of the devastating fire that gutted a tyre factory in Rosslyn in Pretoria North amid claims by the DA that the City of Tshwane refused assistance from private fire fighters during the blaze on Saturday.

- RAPULA MOATSHE

Lindsay Mnguni, spokesperson for the Tshwane Emergency Services Department, disputed the DA’s claims, saying the department responded promptly to the fire and deployed sufficient resources to the scene to carry out effective firefighting operations.

He said the team deployed to fight fire consisted of 57 firefighters, seven command staff, five water tankers, two fire engines, one ladder truck, one mobile command unit, one hazardous materials unit, two district commander vehicles, two foam tenders and two rapid intervention units.

“Five additional water tankers from the Water and Sanitation Department have been deployed on the scene for additional water shuttling and supply,’ he said.

Mnguni said the teams worked systematically to isolate the fire and manage the intense heat and smoke conditions that are characteristic of tyre-related incidents.