A fire erupted at eight small shops located at the intersection of Jeppe and Polly streets in Johannesburg’s central business district (CBD), with emergency services swiftly responding to the incident.
Blaze at Jeppe corner: Eight shops ravaged by fire in Johannesburg
PLEASE NOTE: The third-party content below is shared on our platform for journalistic purposes. Swisher Post, its parent company, partners and affiliates shall not be held liable for any consequence that arises from the journalistic duties performed in sharing this content.
As reported by Times Live, City of Johannesburg firefighters were dispatched to tackle a significant fire engulfing eight small shops on Jeppe and Polly streets. The emergency call was received early Wednesday morning and prompted a quick response by emergency management services (EMS).
EMS spokesperson Xolile Khumalo confirmed that fortunately, there have been no reported injuries. The firefighters’ efforts were focused on dampening down the flames, and EMS fire inspectors were on standby to investigate the fire’s cause.
In light of recent cooler temperatures and a Midrand hailstorm on Monday, Khumalo emphasised the importance of adopting safe heating practices.
“EMS urges the community to exercise extra precaution when using electrical appliances and braziers. Please ensure these are switched off or put out when not in use. Stay safe and take care during the cold weather,” Khumalo stressed.
This incident is the fourth fire in Johannesburg’s CBD in the past two months, heightening concerns about fire safety in the city.
A notable recent tragedy involved a hijacked building fire that resulted in the loss of 77 lives on 31 August 2023, the inquiry of which is currently underway.
Another recent incident was a fire at the SARS building, which occurred soon after the City of Johannesburg had to close its Braamfontein offices due to faulty transformers.