150 tons wool damaged in Queendustria factory fire
An estimated 150 tons of wool was damaged at Lazy 8, one of SA’s wool buying and export businesses, but it was unclear whether a water leak in the roof or a fire that broke out at the Queendustria plant caused the damage.
Owner Steven Dell said the wool was most likely damaged by the water.
“There was a leak in the roof which we did not pick up with all the rain last week. The leak was running into a stack of about 300 tons of wool,” Dell said.
“You could smell that it was becoming a bit wet so the workers started moving the stack and later it eventually started smoking.
“Wool does not really burn, it was more the bags that fuelled the fire.”
He said four fire fighters had arrived to assist at about 8pm on Monday and a number of residents came out with water carts to help try extinguish the fire.
“The community was extremely helpful.
“I think in a time of crisis you see how everybody pulls together. It is truly nice to see.”
Dell said they were still trying to work through the process of determining the damage at this stage.
“I think if wool was an accelerant this whole shed would have burned down, but we live to fight another day and it is just one of those things that happen,” he said.
Dell said he was amazed that the wool did not catch fire.
He said a security guard had informed him about the fire and he immediately rushed to the scene.
He said the incident did not stop production, and that no employees were hurt.
However, two fire fighters who were on site had to seek medical attention after inhaling smoke from the fire.
Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality spokesperson Lonwabo Kowa said the employees were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.
“The fire fighters were subjected to a medical check up by the municipal doctor and ‘Injury on duty’ forms were filled in and the fire fighters were booked off to ensure a speedy recovery.”
Lazy 8, which was established in March 2013, is one of five export facilities in SA and was started as a route to market for communal farmers.
The business deals with wool processing at the factory in Queendustria and has a working partnership with the largest merino wool topmaker in China, Tianyu.