Millions lost in Knysna Leisure fifi re
KNYSNA - Timber product manufacturing company Knysna Leisure Industries suffered a second fire in just over a decade when one of the structures on its premises burned down last week.
The fire occurred on the night of Thursday 31 March and proved to be no April fool's joke for co-owner AJ Wilson, who only found out about the fire the next day.
"Allsound had tried to notify me of the fire, but I missed their call and they got in touch with my [business] partner instead. I only found out about the fire the next morning. It's not exactly the sight you expect to greet you when you turn the corner and get to work," Wilson said. "I had to convince our insurance company that this was in fact not an April fool's joke when I called to tell them."
Wilson said the fire occurred within a wooden structure portion of the factory, and that they "lost a couple of machines in the fire". He indicated that while the fire was contained and that only a small part of the business was burnt, he estimated the loss in damage to be between R3- and R4-million.
"The fire department was absolutely fantastic in their efforts and ability to contain the fire.
“We are immensely grateful for what they did," Wilson said.
According to municipal spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhoudt, the Knysna Fire and Rescue Department received reports of a fire at the premises in Boswerker Street shortly before 21:30. "As a result of the combustible materials, a section of the factory was engulfed in flames when the team arrived," Bezuidenhoudt said.
A team of 13 firefighters using five fire engines managed to contain the fire and prevented it from spreading to other areas or nearby properties.
"At about 02:15 [on 1 April] the area was declared safe," Bezuidenhoudt said.
Thankfully, no injuries were sustained during the blaze.
Knysna Leisure Industries is somewhat of an institution in the local timber manufacturing industry. It was established in 1986 and Wilson and his business partner took it over four years later. It is such an established part of the local timber industry that Wilson even received a call from Knysna Mayor Levael Davis the day after the fire. "I have to also extend a huge thank you to the mayor for his very special call the next day offering his condolences for the losses in the fire," he said. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.