The Bulawayo Fire Brigade says an electrical fault is believed to have caused a fire that damaged the first floor of Rock Motel in Bulawayo’s central business district on Wednesday.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mhlangano Moyo said the City of Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Service received an emergency call at 1:15 pm reporting the fire.
“The City of Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Service received the emergency call at 13:15 on Wednesday from PAO Sibanda that there was a fire at Rock Motel, situated at the intersection of Leopold Takawira Street and George Silundika Street in the Central Business District of Bulawayo,” said Moyo.
“Two fire appliances were mobilised. The Brigade arrived at 13:20, approximately five minutes after receiving the call.
“Upon arrival at the incident, the first floor of the motel was found well alight, with thick flames and heavy smoke issuing from the affected floor.
“The intensity of the fire indicated that it had developed significantly prior to the arrival of the Brigade.”
He said three eyewitnesses first noticed the fire at about noon after seeing smoke and flames coming from the ceiling and attempted to extinguish it.
“An electrical fault was established as the probable cause of the fire. The eyewitnesses were Lucky Maphosa, Mlauzi Sipho and Cristobel, who first saw the fire at 12:00 emanating from the ceiling, and they went down to investigate, and later they saw the ceiling on fire, resulting in them trying to put it out,” said Moyo.
“On our investigation, it was noted with a high degree of burning and charred cables. The degree of burning was concentrated on that area with a V plume sign. They struggled with the fire until it went out of control.”
Moyo said further checks were carried out on the electrical installation, wiring, distribution boards, appliances and other equipment to establish the exact point where the fire started.
“The preliminary investigation indicated that an electrical fault is the probable cause of the fire,” said Moyo.
“Further examination of the electrical installation, wiring, distribution boards, appliances and other electrical equipment gadgets was carried out to establish the exact ignition point.”
Moyo said investigators found that the fire spread horizontally from the suspected point of origin to adjoining rooms, corridors and other areas on the first floor.
He said the fire caused extensive damage to the first floor, including internal finishes, electrical installations, furniture, bedroom contents, ceilings and walls affected by heat and smoke.
Moyo estimated the value of the property lost at US$1 million and goods lost at US$300,000, while property worth an estimated US$1.7 million was saved.
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