Pretoria – Firefighters this week battled a fire at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility in Pretoria.
Recounting the incident, the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department said it was notified of a fire at one of the living quarters at the facility on Thursday, (25 April 2024), at15:14.
“Firefighters arrived on the scene to find four units of an about 150 m long structure with about ten units engulfed by fire, and immediately commenced with firefighting operations,” the City said.
“Four female patients were treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation and transported to Mediclinic Muelmed Hospital and Mediclinic Medforum Hospital in stable condition.
“While conducting search operations in one of the units filled with dense smoke, a firefighter discovered a lifeless cat and immediately brought it out of the unit while conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).”
The cat regained consciousness and paramedics administered oxygen therapy to it, the City said.
“Two units were completely damaged by the fire, while the other four sustained damage to the roof and extensive smoke damage,” the City said.
“It is suspected that the fire must have started in one of the units and rapidly spread to other units because of the absence of firewalls between the units.”
The City said 26 tenants at the units were affected by the fire.
However, management of the correctional facility indicated that alternative accommodation would be arranged for them.
“The cause of the fire has not yet been determined,” the City said.
