Disaster as woodchips go up in flames
THE devastating woodchip fire that will severely impact that industry’s shortterm future appears also to have shown huge weaknesses in disaster management planning and implementation.
Despite heroic efforts on the part of firefighters, mega-millions of export rands were lost in the inferno that at the time of going to press on Sunday morning was still raging through the NCT mill at Woodchip Glade.
Rain during the night did little to halt the progress of the blaze, which if anything had intensified during the early hours.
A fleet of water tankers from NCT’s forestry area in Melmoth arrived at first light to add more weight to the firefighting effort.
The fire on the huge woodchip mound started shortly after noon from an as yet unspecified cause, but possibly from a conveyor belt fault.
Fanned by a strong north easterly wind and with temperatures in the upper 30s the companies own response team supported by solid assistance from the City of uMhlathuze Fire Department as well as fire teams from the Port of Richards Bay and South32 were on a hiding to nothing as they battled to contain the inferno.
The height of the woodchip piles and difficulty in scaling them added to the struggle but it was the wind that was the determining factor as it relentlessly fanned and spread the flames.
The fire jumped over the crest of the
mound and consumed all in its path as it headed in the direction of the Foskor factory.
The losing cause was exacerbated in the late afternoon when the predicted south westerly gale arrived, now placing the stockpile on the eastern side of the NCT property at risk.
As the intensity grew, firefighters were forced to retreat from the scene in a thick pall of smoke that made visibility and breathing difficult, with fear that some firemen or staff might be left behind.
However, no reports of injury were received and all the weary crews that were forced to surrender to the heat, smoke and flames were safe.
Many thousands of tons of woodchips, mostly destined for
Japanese buyers, were lost in the blaze and what was not burnt would have been contaminated by water, soot and smoke.
The loss, including the extensive damage to buildings, conveyer lines, plant and equipment must yet be quantified, but production will surely be severely affected for many months.
Residents rally
But the drama did not end there, by a long way, as the danger of the close proximity of residential homes to industry played out.
The windstorm carried burning woodchip embers across the John Ross highway and into the bush, starting another fire that threated homes in Via Cassiandra and Wattelgoud streets in Arboretum Extension.
Friends and strangers rallied to calls for help and within minutes literally hundreds of helpers, including CPF and security company members, arrived with an assortment of fire-fighting paraphernalia, ranging from water trailers, pumps and fire extinguishers to buckets and hoses.Cars loaded with clothes and valuables were pulled out of driveways in the event of needing to evacuate, but this proved unnecessary thanks to the sterling community effort.
However, residents stayed on high alert during the night as the strong wind persisted.