Guests Evacuated After Late-Night Fire At Premier Hotel Near O.R. Tambo

Travellers checking in for early morning flights and business guests settling in for the night were forced into an unexpected evacuation after a fire broke out at the Premier Hotel near O.R. Tambo International Airport late on Wednesday evening.

The blaze, which emergency services say started on the seventh floor of the eight-storey building, triggered a swift response from Ekurhuleni firefighters. By the time most residents in surrounding areas were fast asleep, emergency crews were already on scene.

Rapid Response From Four Fire Stations

According to emergency officials, the call came in at 11:20pm. Fire crews from four different stations responded, racing to contain the flames and prevent the fire from spreading through one of Gauteng’s busiest airport hotels.

In total, 158 guests and 23 staff members were evacuated safely from the building. One guest had to be rescued from a balcony as firefighters worked their way through the smoke-filled corridors.

Two guests were treated for smoke inhalation, but no serious injuries were reported.

For a hotel located just minutes from South Africa’s busiest airport, the incident could have been far worse. The property was reportedly 50 percent occupied at the time, which meant a coordinated and calm evacuation was critical.

Smoke Damage And Ongoing Investigations

Emergency teams ventilated the entire building using positive pressure ventilators to clear thick smoke from passageways and rooms. Eleven guest rooms were identified as having suffered significant smoke damage.

Ekurhuleni EMS spokesperson William Ntladi indicated that an electrical short circuit is suspected as the possible cause, although investigations are still underway to confirm exactly what sparked the fire.

Electrical faults remain one of the leading causes of building fires in South Africa, particularly in multi-storey properties where ageing infrastructure and heavy power usage can create risk. With load shedding easing in recent months but power usage still high, safety compliance in commercial buildings remains under scrutiny.

A Reminder For Travellers And Property Owners

Incidents like this highlight how critical emergency preparedness is, especially in hospitality hubs near major transport routes. The area surrounding O.R. Tambo International Airport is home to dozens of hotels that cater to business travellers, tourists and airline crew daily.

Thanks to a rapid response and effective evacuation procedures, what could have been a major tragedy instead ended with everyone accounted for.

Investigations into the exact cause continue.

Swift action by City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) firefighters prevented a potential disaster last night when a blaze threatened the Premier Hotel, located adjacent to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park. https://t.co/vwosM1qBoJ
📷: Supplied#CityofEkhurleni #firefighters… pic.twitter.com/Z2Se7qYfPw

IOL News (@IOL) February 12, 2026

{Source:SABC News}

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