A dramatic incident unfolded at a fuel truck company in Hillcrest, Benoni, where two articulated trucks and one rigid truck caught fire following a welding operation that went dangerously awry, leading to a rapid response from local fire services.
The Ekurhuleni Emergency Management Services arrived at the scene to find the main articulated trailer fully loaded with an alarming 40,000 litres of petrol, while an additional trailer contained another 15,000 litres.
A rigid truck, which also caught fire, was similarly filled with 15,000 litres of petrol, heightening concerns about potential hazards. Notably, the second articulated truck's trailer was empty but remained perilous due to the risks of vapour explosion.
"The fire was reportedly caused by welding works on one of the trucks, which sent out sparks that ignited nearby vehicles," said Ekurhuleni Emergency Management Services spokesperson, William Ntladi.
In a display of swift action, 20 firefighters from four different fire stations combined their efforts, employing foam as an extinguishing agent to mitigate the petroleum's volatility. Their collective efforts ensured that the blaze was brought under control within just a few hours.
Ntladi said no casualties were reported at the scene, yet the presence of multiple trucks and fuel tanks in the company's yard placed nearby businesses at elevated risk.
He added that the quick response and efficient action taken by the firefighters averted what could have been a far more catastrophic event in the busy industrial sector of Ekurhuleni.
Meanwhile, the fire safety officials are now investigating the incident further to determine the full circumstances surrounding the fire.