Workers feared for their lives as the inferno raged
More people panicked, rushed down staircases
Employees who escaped the deadly blaze that tore through the top floors of a 24-storey building in Johannesburg, have told of how they panicked and ran down staircases fearing for their lives.
The fire that led to the deaths of three firefighters and left eight others injured when fire engulfed the Bank of Lisbon building on Pixley Seme Street that houses three Gauteng government departments.
Seven of the firefighters admitted to hospital sustained burn injuries, while one was admitted for exhaustion.
But Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (JEMS) spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi told Sowetan on Wednesday night that four of the eight injured firefighters have been discharged from hospital.
Witnesses told of how at about 10am on Wednesday a fire broke out on the 23rd floor, which houses the department of health’s legal services.
“We just ran. We left everything behind. We ran from the building as a group,” said one panicked employee.
Another terrified government worker described the fear she and her colleagues felt when the offices caught alight.
A financial clerk‚ who cannot be named because she was not authorised to talk to the media‚ said employees ran for their lives.
“No one knew what was happening. It was terrifying.”
The woman described how the situation was worsened when ambulances arrived at the scene as more people panicked and rushed down the staircases.
Emergency Medical Services CEO Lesiba Malotana, who was in a meeting in a building nearby, told of how they battled the blaze with in-house fire hydrants but were simply overwhelmed by the fire.
He said he suspected that an electrical fault might have caused the fire. “We called the firefighters and cleared the building,” he said.
The building houses the Gauteng departments of health; human settlements; and cooperative governance and traditional affairs.
An employee who works on the 21st floor said he fled his office when a fire warning was sounded to staff members shortly after the blaze broke out.
“It was just an ordinary day at work. Suddenly there was an announcement that the building was on fire.
“Of course some people panicked and wanted to rush out. People were pushing each other.” He said rescue workers prioritised the evacuation of women.
Dozens of employees who were evacuated from the building through the stairs said they watched in horror as one firefighter fell to his death from the 23rd floor minutes after a team of about five firemen had gone up to try and contain the flames.
The firefighter apparently slipped and fell from a balcony where they were trying to put out the blaze. His body lay on street covered in a silver foil sheet as forensic experts examined the scene.
Authorities later announced that two other firefighters who were trapped inside the building had been confirmed dead.
Gauteng MEC for infrastructure development Jacob Mamabolo said a report on the state of government buildings received a week ago showed that the building had 21% compliance with health and safety standards. Ideally, compliance should be at 85%, he said.
He said 13 department of health employees were admitted at a hospital for smoke inhalation. Employees claimed repeated complaints to management about safety issues in the building were ignored.
National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union regional deputy chair Benjamin Mogoye said they have been warning management about the danger posed by the building for the past four years.