Electrical fault blamed for Rock Motel fire

An electrical fault has been identified as the probable cause of 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 13:15 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. Two fire appliances were mobilised. The Brigade arrived at 13:20, approximately five minutes after receiving the call,” said Moyo.

The fire was first noticed at about 12:00 by three eyewitnesses, who saw smoke and flames coming from the ceiling and attempted to put out the fire.

“An electrical fault was established as the probable cause of fire. The eye witnesses 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. 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,” said Moyo.

Moyo said further examination of the electrical installation, wiring, distribution boards, appliances and other electrical equipment was carried out to establish the exact point of ignition.

“The preliminary investigation indicated that an electrical fault is the probable cause of the fire. Further examination of the electrical installation, wiring, distribution boards, appliances and other electrical equipment gadgets were checked to establish the exact ignition point,” he said.

He said the fire caused significant 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 property lost at US$1 million and the loss of goods at US$300,000, while property worth an estimated US$1.7 million was saved.

“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.

Firefighters immediately began operations to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the motel, Selbourne Hotel and nearby properties.

“Immediate firefighting operations were commenced to contain and extinguish the fire and prevent fire spread to other parts of the building Selbourne Hotel and adjacent properties,” said Moyo.

He said additional firefighting resources were deployed as the fire spread, with gas cylinders contributing to the intensity of the blaze.

“More resources were mobilised as the incident was big and the fire was spreading, heavily fueled by gas cylinders,” he said.

Moyo said investigators established that the fire spread horizontally from the suspected point of origin to adjoining rooms, corridors and other areas on the first floor.

“The investigation established that the fire went horizontally from the suspected point of origin to adjoining rooms, corridors and other areas of the first floor,” he said.