Woman rescued from burning Umbilo church as investigators probe suspected arson

A woman was pulled to safety from a burning building in Durban’s Umbilo area on Wednesday evening after flames engulfed a property housing a tyre fitment centre and a church.

Firefighters from eThekwini Fire and Emergency Services were called to the double-storey building at the corner of Umbilo Road and Che Guevara Road on 14 October, where both floors were already ablaze.

The municipality’s Emergency Call Centre received the first reports at around 8.20pm and dispatched emergency crews to the scene.

With thick smoke, intense heat and combustible materials inside the building, firefighters faced challenging conditions as they worked to reach the trapped woman.

Woman taken to hospital after rescue

The building’s ground floor houses a tyre fitment centre, where tyres are stored, while the church occupies the upper floor.

The combination of a fire spreading through both levels and highly combustible materials made the rescue particularly dangerous. Despite these conditions, firefighters managed to reach the woman and bring her out safely.

Emergency personnel treated her for smoke inhalation at the scene before transporting her to hospital for further care.

Fire crews brought the blaze under control within 10 minutes of arriving. Their efforts also prevented the fire from spreading to neighbouring properties, limiting the potential damage in the surrounding area.

No deaths or additional injuries were reported.

Investigators looking into possible incendiary device

While the immediate danger has passed, questions remain about what started the fire.

Preliminary information suggests that an incendiary device may have been thrown at the building. However, this has not been confirmed, and the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

Fire investigators were still at the scene on Thursday, 15 October, working to establish where and how the fire started.

The suspected use of an incendiary device raises questions about whether the blaze was deliberately started, but investigators will need to establish the facts before any conclusions can be drawn.

Municipality urges businesses to review fire safety

The incident has also highlighted the risks fires pose to buildings that house businesses and other establishments under one roof, particularly where flammable materials are stored.

eThekwini Municipality has urged residents and business owners to ensure that appropriate fire safety measures are in place to protect people and property.

Anyone who witnesses a fire or needs to report an emergency in the city can contact the eThekwini Emergency Call Centre on 031 361 0000.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation into the Umbilo fire is urged to contact the South African Police Service (SAPS).

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Source: The Citizen