Government building fire claims three
• Report warns structure did not comply with standards
A firefighter plunged to his death on Wednesday and two others died from smoke inhalation while battling a blaze at provincial government offices in Johannesburg, officials said.
Eight other firefighters were hospitalised with various injuries, including burns, while the bodies of the two who died from smoke inhalation were removed from the building, officials said.
Infrastructure development MEC Jacob Mamabolo confirmed that three members of the City of Johannesburg fire department had lost their lives,
The provincial government received a report just more than a week ago‚ on August 27‚ that indicated eight governmentowned buildings did not comply with legal standards, Mamabolo said. This included the Gauteng health and human settlements building where the fire broke out on Wednesday.
“In the report we have found that the building was not compliant with occupation‚ safety and health standards‚” he said.
Buildings should ideally be more than 85% compliant with these standards, but the building was only 21% compliant‚ he said.
“It’s very clear to us there is a problem with … buildings in the provincial government‚ so we are not in denial about that point. If we created the impression that we didn’t know‚ that would be incorrect,” he said.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Gauteng Premier David Makhura said a government employee who was “in the room” where the fire broke out would be interviewed.
One of the firefighters plunged from the 23rd floor of the 24-storey building while trying to extinguish the flames, Michael Sun, the city’s public safety chief, said. “One of our firefighters is believed to have slipped and fallen from the 23rd floor and he has been confirmed dead,” Sun said.
All civilians working in the building were evacuated. Thirteen required treatment for smoke inhalation.
ONE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS IS BELIEVED TO HAVE SLIPPED AND FALLEN FROM THE 23RD FLOOR