The Pyramid substation fire broke out amid high winds that caused devastation to portions of the city.
According to Selby Bokaba, a spokeswoman for the City of Tshwane, the storm left a path of destruction in Hammanskraal and the adjacent suburbs.
He claimed that lightning struck the Pyramid substation, causing it to catch fire.
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“The fire then spread into the high-tension yard. Emergency services was quick to respond and managed to extinguish the fire.
“Power has been restored at the Rooiwal power station, but the rest of the customers, including the Rooiwal Waste Treatment Plant and the farming communities supplied by the substation, are still out.
“Technicians are currently investigating and assessing the full scale of the damage. An update will be provided during the course of the day,” said Bokaba.
Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, the city’s emergency services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi says multiple shack fires were reported at the KyaSands informal settlement.
“The fire has been extinguished, and two patients were treated for smoke inhalation and later transported to various healthcare facilities for further medical care.
“At this stage, the cause of the fire is under investigation. We encourage residents in informal settlements to look after heating devices to prevent fires,” said Mulaudzi.
According to Mulaudzi, no serious events have been reported. The monitoring teams, however, remain on high alert in all seven zones of the city.
