Police are investigating the cause of the fire that left 23 buses burnt at a depot in Mabopane, north of Pretoria. According to authorities, the buses belong to Starline Bus Company. Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson Lindsay Mnguni says firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze and no injuries were
reported.
The fire was reported as a grassfire incident to the Emergency Communication Centre at about 12:16, and a fire engine was immediately dispatched from Mabopane Fire Station to the scene. Upon arrival, firefighters confirmed that there was a grassfire and two of the many private buses that were parked inside the open
yard of the bus depot were also involved in fire.
The fire was spreading quickly towards other buses as they were parked closely together and so the firefighters immediately began with firefighting operations which helped to bring the fire under control,” said Mnguni.
In addition, Mnguni said some of the buses were completely burned and a few were partially burned, while firefighters managed to save about 14 buses.
“The windy conditions also exacerbated the fire spread but the swift actions of the firefighters helped to successfully stop the fire from spreading and further damaging these 14 other buses. They also extinguished the grassfire in the process, thus preventing it from causing further damage in the surrounding area,” explained
the spokesperson.
