Times Of Swaziland: GOVT CAR BURST INTO  FLAMES AT CTA GARAGE

GOVT CAR BURST INTO  FLAMES AT CTA GARAGE
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Joseph Zulu on 20/07/2022 08:04:00


PIGG’S PEAK – Officials at the Central Transport Agency (CTA) are still
without answers about a fire that burnt one of government’s vehicles.
The car was parked at the CTA filling station in readiness for refuelling when a
strange scratchy sound was heard. This was revealed by some of the officials who
are said to have been nearby when the fire started. The scratchy sound is said
to have been heard as the petrol was being filled into the vehicle’s tank.
Within a few seconds, the double cab van is said to have started burning from
behind. Due to the vehicle being next to fuel pumps, the driver as well as the
others who were nearby fled in fear that the tanks could explode. The fire is
said to have spread quickly due to the fuel. According to one of the officials,
the vehicle is said to have been brought in after completely running out of
fuel.
Fire
He said this also may have contributed. He said when the tank was empty, this
could result in the vehicle catching fire. However, he also said it would be
important if there were officials who were trained to explain such incidents.
“We need such expertise of people who will analyse a fire incident,” said
the official. The official also commended fire emergency officers who arrived
quickly. He said they were called and within a few minutes they were at the
scene. He said the response was good because, had they not arrived on time, the
filling station would have exploded. He said this could have been a disaster
because there was a school situated a few meters away from the filling station.
Meanwhile, the fire emergency officials complained that they did not have the
foam normally used to put out fires caused by highly flammable substances such
as petrol. They said it was very difficult to put out such fires using water.
“When you use water, it is like you are fuelling the fire,” they said. Luke
Lushaba, who is the Spokesperson of the Eswatini National Emergency and Fire
Services said he had not received a report on the incident.