By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The investigations are continuing into massive fire that erupted at the NCT Woodchip mill in Richards Bay on Saturday afternoon.
The fire had spread to the conveyor belt system at the mill, intensifying the emergency situation.
The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.
In a statement on Sunday morning, City of uMhlathuze spokesperson Bongani Gina provided a preliminary report and the latest update on the Richards Bay blaze.
Gina said that on Saturday at approximately 1.10pm, the City of uMhlathuze Fire Services received an urgent call regarding a fire incident near the NCT Company, adjacent to Foscor, which handles wood-related materials. Immediate action was taken to address the situation.
“Upon arrival at the scene, it was evident that the fire appeared to have originated at a conveyor belt used for the storage of wooden chips. However, a comprehensive investigation will be conducted to determine the precise cause of the fire. At the time of arrival, the fire had already engulfed the wooden chip stockpiles,” Gina said.
He said that the City of uMhlathuze Fire Services promptly engaged in firefighting operations and received invaluable assistance from various partners, including the Mondi Fire Services, Transnet Fire Services, South 32, RBM, and other private companies.
Gina said the weather conditions posed significant challenges, with temperatures soaring to an estimated 39 degrees Celsius. The situation became increasingly complex as the wind speed intensified and shifted to a northerly direction, providing additional fuel to the fire.
“At one point, wooden chip sparks were carried over John Ross Highway, igniting the green belt opposite the highway and the neighbouring residential area of Arboretum, Via Cassiandra, raising concerns for nearby residents,” Gina said.
He said that under the command of the City of uMhlathuze fire chief, fire and rescue teams were swiftly dispatched to different areas of Arboretum.
By approximately 8.29pm, the fire around the residential area was successfully brought under control, with no reported loss of property or lives. Our current focus remains on monitoring and addressing the ongoing fire at NCT, which is expected to require additional time, possibly even days, for complete containment,” Gina said.
He said that the collaborative response from concerned agencies and the community has been overwhelming, with water tankers also made available to provide much-needed assistance.
“Evacuation measures were not deemed necessary, and there is currently no imminent risk to residential areas,” Gina said.
City of uMhlathuze Mayor Xolani Ngwezi extended his heartfelt gratitude to all the firefighters and the citizens of Richards Bay who rallied together to form an indomitable team to combat this uncontrollable blaze. Their collective efforts ensured that the fire did not encroach upon the residential areas, especially in Arboretum, which is in close proximity to the fire incident.
Ngwezi said: “Gratitude is extended to the dedication and support demonstrated by everyone, including industries, the Community Policing Forum (CPF), and individuals who worked tirelessly under extreme conditions to control and contain the fire. We urge the community to remain at home, stay vigilant, and report any signs of fire to the fire services.”
An aerial view of the NCT wood chip fire in Richards Bay.
Almost 200 workers will be affected while the mill shuts down for the foreseeable future.
The GM has described it as the worst fire in the forestry sector nationally.
NCT processes and exports local timber. #eNCA pic.twitter.com/3MYksKXMvx
— Dasen Thathiah (@DasenThathiah) October 1, 2023
Meanwhile the Free State provincial government had earlier confirmed seven fire incidents in the province and had activated Working on Fire teams to assist with efforts to extinguish the fires.
Several roads were closed following due to poor visibility, which caused crashes.
Farms along Windburg, Senekal, Marquad, Tweespruit, Ventersburg and along the N3 have been affected.
The N3, the N1 between the R30 and Ventersburg as well as the Verkeerdevlei tollgate were also affected and were closed.