Quick reaction by the fire department prevented a potential catastrophe at the Pepper Grove shopping centre last weekend.
Quick reaction by the fire department prevented a potential catastrophe at the Pepper Grove shopping centre last weekend.
Within two minutes of receiving a call to tell them a rubbish container outside the goods-receiving section of Pick n Pay, next to the front entrance of Pepper Grove mall, was on fire, the Grahamstown Fire Department was there putting it out.
Pick n Pay Manager Johan Pienaar said he didn't know what had caused the fire, which started around 8pm on Sunday night, but suspected that street children might have played a part. He said the children often sneaked into the dump to sleep there, or took boxes to keep themselves warm.
The fire was quickly spotted by civilians and the security guards, who alerted Pienaar immediately. Pienaar, who praised the fire department for their "swift action", said they'd arrived in less than two minutes after the phone call.
The fire had been doused in less than 15 minutes and despite blackened walls in the vicinity, no damage had been done to any property.
