Another devastating structural fire in a care center in Springs has left 12 dead and another 28 injured.
With the Peter Wessels Old Age Home fire still fresh in the minds of Emergency and Fire Rescue Personnel, it seemed more like a nightmare than reality when shortly after 12 last night a fire broke out in the dining hall of the care facility for special needs in Springs.
The ER24 Advanced Life Support paramedic from the Benoni base was the first paramedic to arrive on scene and quickly assessed the patients outside of the building while Fire Fighters battled the raging fire. Sadly, 6 people had already succumbed to smoke inhalation injuries and they were found dead outside. Another woman was in a critical condition and she was hardly breathing when the paramedic took over her treatment. She had suffered massive smoke inhalation injuries and was placed on a manual ventilator before being transported to Thambo Memorial Hospital. Her condition had improved by the time she had reached hospital and was handed over to waiting trauma staff in a stable condition.
The remaining 27 women had all suffered minor smoke inhalation injuries and were treated accordingly on scene and taken to either Polesong Hospital or the Far East Rand Hospital for further treatment.
When the fire was extinguished, a further 6 women were found inside the building, having suffered severe burns and there was nothing more that could be done for them.
In total, 12 women lost their lives and a further 28 had to be taken to hospital for treatment.
It is not clear what caused the fire, but it seems to have only affected the female residents’ ward.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those affected by the fire.
[Info from ER24]
