Fire contained at KWV bottling plant without serious injury

The fire started at around 6.30am on Monday, which was quickly contained by the Drakenstein Municipality’s Fire Services Department, with teams and vehicles from the Cape Winelands District Municipality and Stellenbosch Municipality. Photo: Henk Kruger / African News Agency (ANA)

The fire started at around 6.30am on Monday, which was quickly contained by the Drakenstein Municipality’s Fire Services Department, with teams and vehicles from the Cape Winelands District Municipality and Stellenbosch Municipality. Photo: Henk Kruger / African News Agency (ANA)

Published Nov 20, 2018

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Cape Town – Drakenstein firefighters managed to quell a fire that broke out at the KWV Bottling Plant in southern Paarl, which threatened to damage tanks storing altogether 90 000 litres of brandy.

The fire started at around 6.30am on Monday and was quickly contained by the Drakenstein Municipality’s Fire Services Department, with assistance from Cape Winelands District Municipality and Stellenbosch Municipality disaster management teams. 

This year the wine and spirits company celebrated its centennial status. 

Drakenstein Municipality spokesperson Riana Geldenhuys said firefighters managed to contain the fire at a building consisting of three adjacent stores.

“Forty-eight firefighters and officers, as well as 14 fire services vehicles, were at the scene and managed to successfully prevent the fire from damaging tanks storing altogether 90 000 litres of brandy. Mainly machinery, office equipment and bottles on pallets were damaged in the fire. 

"Two KWV employees and a Drakenstein Municipality firefighter sustained minor smoke inhalation injuries. No one was seriously injured and all staff are being accounted for,” she said.

Geldenhuys said Drakenstein Municipality’s Fire Services Department remained at the scene as mopping-up operations continued. She said the cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated by the SAPS.

According to KWV chief executive Boyce Lloyd, the authorities and support services acted swiftly and the fire was brought under control and the damage was contained to parts of the bottling and packaging infrastructure.

“A KWV employee, a service provider and municipal firefighter have been admitted to hospital for smoke inhalation and are in a stable condition. 

"Four KWV employees were treated on site for minor smoke inhalation. KWV’s capability to bottle certain brands will thus temporarily be impacted.

“We are currently compiling contingency plans with various service providers and related industries to assist with bottling services of those products impacted.  

"Blending operations, full goods warehousing, logistical and related distribution operations are thankfully unaffected,”  he said.

Lloyd said the incident is viewed as an industrial accident and the cause still has to be determined.

He said updated reports stated that three people were taken to hospital, while the remaining two would remain for observation.

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