Black smoke and panic as Germiston factory fire forces mass evacuation

Black smoke and panic as Germiston factory fire forces mass evacuation

For much of Thursday morning, Germiston South felt like a scene from a disaster movie.

A towering plume of thick black smoke rose above the industrial area, visible from kilometres away, as a factory fire ripped through a rubber recycling facility sending workers running for safety and forcing the closure of nearby streets amid fears of toxic fumes.

A fire that spread fast

The City of Ekurhuleni’s Disaster and Emergency Management Services confirmed that firefighters were dispatched shortly after 10am to a structural fire at the corner of Railway and Power streets.

When crews arrived, they were met with an intense blaze. Flames tore through the building, while diesel fumes filled the air, creating hazardous conditions for surrounding businesses and pedestrians.

According to DEMS spokesperson William Ntladi, the atmosphere was already dangerous on arrival, with heavy carbon smoke and fuel vapour blanketing the area.

Diesel runoff turns streets into danger zones

The situation escalated when it emerged that roughly 15,000 litres of diesel stored in plastic tanks inside the factory had caught alight during a delivery.

As the fuel burned, diesel runoff spilled onto Railway and Power streets and flowed into the stormwater drainage system, prompting authorities to shut roads to protect motorists and pedestrians.

Firefighters worked against the clock to prevent the flames from spreading further through the industrial strip a real concern in an area packed with warehouses and workshops.

Firefighters from across Ekurhuleni mobilised

The scale of the fire triggered a major response. Crews from Germiston Central, Primrose, Wadeville and nearby stations rushed to the scene.

In total, five fire stations, 31 firefighters and six fire engines were deployed, battling volatile flames fed by fuel and rubber a notoriously difficult combination to extinguish.

Thanks to their swift action, the fire was contained before it could reach neighbouring properties, avoiding what officials described as a potentially catastrophic outcome.

No injuries, but heavy damage

Despite the chaos and mass evacuation, no injuries or fatalities were reported a relief echoed by residents and workers watching the scene unfold from a distance.

Parts of the factory, however, suffered extensive damage.

While it’s suspected that a spark during the diesel delivery may have ignited the fire, authorities have stressed that this has not yet been confirmed. Fire safety officers are conducting a full investigation to determine the exact cause.

Environmental clean-up under way

With diesel entering the stormwater system, environmental concerns quickly became a priority.

Spill Tech teams, alongside City of Ekurhuleni environmental officials, were deployed to contain the contamination and begin clean-up and rehabilitation efforts.

Social media shock and familiar concerns

Images and videos of the smoke-filled skyline spread rapidly on social media, with many users expressing alarm at how close the fire came to busy roads and workplaces.

Others raised broader questions about safety standards in aging industrial zones like Germiston, where factories often sit shoulder to shoulder with little buffer when things go wrong.

A narrow escape for a busy industrial hub

For now, Germiston South is counting itself lucky.

As Ntladi put it, the firefighters’ rapid response prevented a far worse disaster one that could have shut down a large part of the area and put countless lives at risk.

But the fire has left behind more than charred walls and closed roads. It’s also reignited debate about industrial safety, fuel handling and environmental risk in one of Gauteng’s most heavily industrialised corridors.

{Source: IOL}

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