Call for hospital fire safety audit

The DA’s Jack Bloom has called for a fire safety audit after a fire reportedly broke out at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Joburg.

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Johannesburg – A fire broke out in a storeroom at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg on Sunday, according to the Democratic Alliance.

“I am concerned by the fire this morning (Sunday) at the Helen Joseph Hospital in west Johannesburg, which raises questions about fire prevention at hospitals in Gauteng,” MPL Jack Bloom said in a statement.

It appeared that a storeroom went up in flames, but had been brought under control by firefighters, he said.

This followed a fire in May this year at the Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.

“Fortunately, in both cases the fire did not affect wards with patients, but we might not be so lucky next time.”

Many hospital buildings were sorely in need of maintenance and repair that would assist in fire prevention.

A fire inspection audit should be done at all Gauteng hospitals to ensure that fire controls were adequate, Bloom said.

African News Agency