JEALOUSY, poor fire-fighting and faulty wiring were blamed for a warehouse blaze that leapt out of control and destroyed a wholesale business at the weekend.
Waseem Navaz, 42, owner of Broadway Cash n Carry in Jarvis Street, Grahamstown, said the fire started in the 1225m² cement, brick and zinc building shortly before 6pm on Sunday. Both building and stock “worth millions”, could have been saved if the fire-hose from Makana Municipality’s “small” fire truck had delivered a more powerful stream. “It looked like pee,” said Navaz.
He said firemen prevented him from rescuing his Hyster forklift when it was unscathed and some distance from the blaze that started in the potato chip snacks’ corner.
Yesterday, while the Dispatch and three staff members watched smoke billowing from the gutted wreck, petty thieves stole more company goods from a parked bakkie being used by one staffer. There was pandemonium as a security guard called for armed response.
Navaz said he and his family had built up their spaza business over nine years, and two years ago he bought the warehouse. “It was our dream. The community is crying, especially the poor. We are not insured.”
The Pakistani national said they supplied spaza shops and schools in town with big- name brand goods. He suspected the fire was caused by “something, jealousy or phobia” but did not elaborate. No official was available to comment. —
Fire sweeps spaza warehouse
Waseem Navaz, 42, owner of Broadway Cash n Carry in Jarvis Street, Grahamstown, said the fire started in the 1225m² cement, brick and zinc building shortly before 6pm on Sunday. Both building and stock “worth millions”, could have been saved if the fire-hose from Makana Municipality’s “small” fire truck had delivered a more powerful stream. “It looked like pee,” said Navaz.
He said firemen prevented him from rescuing his Hyster forklift when it was unscathed and some distance from the blaze that started in the potato chip snacks’ corner.
Yesterday, while the Dispatch and three staff members watched smoke billowing from the gutted wreck, petty thieves stole more company goods from a parked bakkie being used by one staffer. There was pandemonium as a security guard called for armed response.
Navaz said he and his family had built up their spaza business over nine years, and two years ago he bought the warehouse. “It was our dream. The community is crying, especially the poor. We are not insured.”
The Pakistani national said they supplied spaza shops and schools in town with big- name brand goods. He suspected the fire was caused by “something, jealousy or phobia” but did not elaborate. No official was available to comment. —
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