UCT commends swift action in putting out recent fire on campus

A small fire far away from buildings and other infrastructure was reported above Upper Campus on a vacant field. Picture: Jason Boud/African News Agency (ANA) Archives

A small fire far away from buildings and other infrastructure was reported above Upper Campus on a vacant field. Picture: Jason Boud/African News Agency (ANA) Archives

Published Jan 7, 2022

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Cape Town - The University of Cape Town (UCT) has commended quick efforts to put out a fire that had started on its campus on Wednesday night.

A small fire far away from buildings and other infrastructure was reported above Upper Campus on a vacant field near the top dam at around 11.30 by the patrolling UCT Campus Protection Services (CPS).

“The fire services department was on site within 15 minutes and the fire was declared fully doused by 1.45 on Thursday morning,” UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola said.

UCT commended the CPS patrol officers and fire services for acting swiftly.

“At this point there is no indication of the cause of the fire. An investigation will follow and a formal report will be drafted and tabled through the relevant internal channels,” Moholola said.

City Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said an emergency call was received at 11.29pm of grass alight on UCT grounds near the Sports Centre.

“The fire officer from Salt River Fire Station confirmed it was heaps of wood piles. The crew from Salt River returned to the scene Thursday morning at 7.35 for an inspection and was informed that a cleaning crew appointed by UCT will make arrangements to remove these wood piles,” Carelse said.

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