LIVE UPDATES: Parliament fire – 4th, 5th floor of National Assembly Building destroyed, fire could spread to Tuynhuys
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‘Heavy duty, aerial firefighting appliances have just arrived, that can operate within the current strong winds,’ said the City.
The parliament fire, which broke out on Sunday, 2 January, was thought to be under control as of Monday morning at approximately 8:00. At about 16:30, the fire resurged and was later whipped up by the notorious southeasterly wind in Cape Town.
PARLIAMENT ON FIRE AGAIN
22:06 – JP Smith said the fourth and fifth floors of the new wing above of the parliamentary precinct above the National Assembly have been “completely gutted” by the fire.
The City’s MayCo Member for Safety said the wind was blowing the flames towards the palm trees in the adjacent Company Gardens approximately 10 metres from Tuynhuys. The fire crews are working on dampening the vegetation between both buildings.
“Heavy-duty, aerial firefighting appliances have just arrived, that can operate within the current strong winds,” said Smith.
22:00 – WATCH: Jermaine Carelse provides an update on firefighting operations at Parliament.
20:25 – Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said firefighters are still battling the blaze.
Parliament shared drone footage – captured by the Cape Town Metro EMS – of the flare-up earlier on Monday.
19:00 – The Presiding Officers of Parliament issued a statement on the distressing flare-up of flames on the roof of the national assembly.
“The almost two-day brave and courageous battle by firefighters against the flames that gutted various buildings of Parliament suffered a setback when flames suddenly flared up from the roof of the Building this afternoon.
“Firefighters at the scene have been reinforced following the sudden re-emergence of the raging fire.”
According to Parliament, the resurgence of the fire follows earlier information from firefighters about the risky high-temperature levels at the gutted buildings.
18:12 – “Current situation is that the wind has been getting steadily stronger and ignited the smouldering wood inside the roof void space, parts of which are not accessible for dousing or dampening,” said JP Smith, the City of Cape Town MayCo Member for Safety and Security.
Smith said the City’s firefighting strategy is to contain the current fire above the fourth and fifth floor of the National Assembly.
There are now eight pumps on the scene, along with a single Bronto. Firefighting efforts are taking place inside the building and from above via the Bronto.
17:15 – The following roads near the scene are closed while emergency services attend to the Parliament fire:
- Bureau and Adderley
- Roeland and Hope Street
- Plein Street between Spin and St John’s
- Roeland Street closed from Buitenkant towards Parliament
- St John’s closed at Vrede
17:00 – The City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse confirmed that the fire at parliament has flared up.
Carelse said the void beneath the roof sheeting of the National Assembly is on fire and about 34 firefighters are embroiled in active duty.
“Currently there are six firefighting appliances on scene, as well as the hydraulic platform from Roeland Street Fire Station,” said Carelse.
16:55 – Parliament spokesperson Molotho Mothapo described the fresh fire as “devastating” and “inexplicable.”
He said firefighter reinforcements are being dispatched to tackle the blaze at the National Assembly Building.
Earlier on Monday, at approximately, 16:30, residents took to social media to report their sightings of smoke billowing from the roof of the National Assembly.
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