Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Zimpapers Senior Reporter
BULAWAYO Fire Brigade teams had a torrid time yesterday as they battled three separate fire incidents that left property worth thousands of United States dollars destroyed.
A house in Bulawayo’s Burnside suburb and a lodge situated about 40km from the city along Gwanda Road were severely damaged.
The Fire Brigade also prevented the veld fires from spreading into the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport.
Property worth an estimated US$500 000 was gutted by fire at House Number 67 Cathline Lane in Bulawayo’s leafy Burnside suburb, with the city’s fire brigade saying the blaze resulted from illegal and uncontrolled burning.
The owner of the house, Mr Reid Rowland and his wife are on holiday in Switzerland.
While the fire brigade crew was still attending to the Burnside incident, a distress call came through that Elephant Lodge, previously known as Jamaica Inn, about 40km outside Bulawayo along Gwanda Road, was ablaze.
The lodge, which has played host to the famous UB40 band, was engulfed by the flames just after 2PM and four hours later, the Bulawayo Fire Brigade crew was still battling with the inferno, although a large part of it had been contained.
Four fire tenders and 20 fire fighters were deployed to the scene, while at the Burnside incident, the fire brigade deployed seven tenders and 35 fire fighters. The lodge is owned by Mr Tony dos Santos.
The value of the property lost was still being evaluated, although observations on site last night were clear that nothing was salvaged.
It is the second time that the place has been gutted by fire, following a similar incident this time last year.
According to Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer, Mr Mhlangano Moyo, the Burnside fire started at stand number 244 Arnold Way, where occupants were clearing thickets in preparation for construction, but the flames quickly got out of control.
He said a distress call was made to the fire brigade just after 11 AM. The crew battled the inferno for more than three hours, but extensive damage had been done. Household property and a vehicle that was parked in the garage were destroyed.
The area is in Ward Four, Bulawayo’s red zone for fire incidents. In 2023, a fire tender was destroyed while attending to a fire in the same area.
“When we got here, the third structure was well alight, but we managed to save two structures and also nearby properties, that is Whitestone School and the Dabane Water Trust.
“The suspected cause of fire at this point, even though we are still investigating, is that someone at Number 244 Arnold Way was clearing his stand using fire and it went out of control,” said Mr Moyo.
He said preliminary investigations clearly point to a case of uncontrolled burning, which is not allowed in terms of the country’s laws.
A neighbour and Ward Four fire representative, Ms Baye Pigars, concurred with Mr Moyo that the fire started from refuse burning by one of the neighbours.
“We think that there was burning in one of the new stands that has been purchased, where some of the guys were burning refuse that they had cleared to build their property,” she said.
“Everyone tried to control the fire, but the winds were too strong. Ward Four is one of the highest zones of fire risks in Bulawayo and when a fire starts here, it’s almost impossible to stop it,” said Ms Pigars.
She said they battle with fires almost every year and two years ago, she almost became a victim herself when her property was nearly burnt down, but thanks to the alert Fire Brigade crew who deployed six fire tenders, it was saved.
Ms Pigars hailed the fire brigade crew’s reaction speed upon receiving the distress call yesterday.
“Their reaction speed was phenomenal,” she said.
Environmental Management Authority (EMA) national spokesperson Mrs Amkela Sidange said Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 clearly specifies that any land owner, user or someone with authority over a certain piece of land should follow approved fire prevention measures.
“It goes on to say it is a punishable offence for anyone to cause a fire outside a residential or business premises within the specified fire prevention period. Anyone who contravenes these statutes shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine that does not exceed level eight or to an imprisonment of a period not exceeding one year or both,” she said.
“That, however, does not stop the judiciary authorities from considering other factors that are outside this particular S.I. We appeal to the public not to light fires outside their residential or business premises.
“It’s disturbing that we see flames everywhere, with people clearing their urban farm spaces. We want to make it categorically clear that such activities are illegal,” said Mrs Sidange. This year’s fire season runs from July 31 to November 30.
