Fire razes Cape factories

2003-03-27 21:12

Cape Town - Several factories were destroyed in a fire in Montague Gardens in Cape Town on Thursday evening.

The fire broke out in a furniture factory in Marconi Beam in Sable Street in the industrial area about 17:00, Andre Basson, manager of a neighbouring factory told News24.

"The fire started in a furniture factory, and was still burning at after 20:00," said Basson, the manager of Auto Atlantic Coach Works.

"The fire quickly spread to neighbouring factories. A warehouse, where we stored accident-damaged vehicles, was completely destroyed. Several cars burnt out."

Basson said he didn't know the extent of the damage. "We can't come near. Firefighters are still in there trying to stop the fire."

A plastics factory, where plastic bags are manufactured, also caught fire and was partly destroyed.

Amanda Chan, the owner of a printer endangered by the fire, said she had just come from the attorneys. "The business was transferred to my name today," she told News24.

Milnerton Police and Blaauwberg Fire Brigade were at the scene trying to stop the flames from spreading to more factories.

No one was injured, and the cause of the fire was not known.

- News24