Swift Response to Devastating Fire Along Kosmos Hartbeespoort Dam Shoreline

NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam duty phone received the first emergency call from one of our NSRI crew reporting to be witnessing a fire and smoke quickly developing at Kosmos, on the Hartbeespoort Dam shore front.

From that moment on multiple emergency calls started to come through to our NSRI duty phone and to all of the emergency services emergency numbers.

Kosmos, being a village on the shore front, we realised very quickly that the road into Kosmos would quickly become clogged with traffic and emergency vehicles.

We launched 3 rescue craft (NSRI rescue craft and the SRU -Strategic Rescue Unit - craft), accompanied by fire fighting SKED, hoses and water pumps, that we keep at our NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam station 25 rescue base.

We alerted all emergency and community groups for the Hartbeespoort Dam area and surrounding emergency and community groups.

All NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam crew and trainee crew (all trained in fire fighting) responded.

A full scale emergency and community response reacted.

NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam, Madibeng Fire and Rescue Services, HEMS (Harties Emergency Medical Services), the SA Police Services, Community and Security Services, Afriforum, as well as a massive local response was made.

Our rescue craft arrived on shore within 7 minutes of the first call where we were joined by HEMS Fire and Rescue services, and HEMS ambulance services, and together immediately their fire engines, fire fighting equipment, and our water pumps and fire fighting equipment, were deployed - by that stage at least 4 residential homes were ablaze as well as the veld and trees, as well as other structures, heading up the slopes towards the Paul Kruger area and across the shore front, fanned by strong winds.

The priority was to ensure residents and their animals were being evacuated while NSRI and HEMS initiated the fire fighting and the coordinating of the operation.

Madibeng Fire and Rescue Services, as they were arriving on the scene, as well as emergency services, security and community services, were deployed.

Strong winds caused the fire to spread fast.

A local man, who owns a helicopter company, launched a helicopter with a fire fighting bucket, during the afternoon, and doused flames from multiple aerial approaches. He is commended for his efforts that together with the immense emergency fire fighting efforts, contributed to containing the fire.

A rain storm during the afternoon gave us a brief window of opportunity to concentrate on dousing flames inside homes and structures.

The fire appears to have started in the vicinity of Simon Bekker Street from as yet undetermined causes.

Local residents using their garden hoses assisted.

At this stage it appears that a large number of residential homes are gutted, destroyed or seriously damaged and multiple structures, as well as a vast area of trees and veld are affected.

We commend the swift response of all involved and those who helped with clearing houses of furniture and personal possessions and the evacuation of residents, their children and pets.

No loss of life to residents, their pets, and emergency services were incurred, and only minor injuries were attended to during the afternoon.

Police, Fire and Forensics authorities are investigating the cause of this fire.

We commend everyone involved and all thoughts care and compassion are with those who were affected.

During the night and into this morning Madibeng Fire and Rescue Services and emergency services remain on the scene attending to flare ups and investigations.

Gale force winds are continuing to cause flare ups today, Monday.

NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam crew, HEMS and SRU are deployed to assist Madibeng Fire and Rescue Services and the emergency services on the scene.