A RUNAWAY bushfire lit hundreds of barrier tyres at Grand Prix race track after a Buffalo City Metro fire tanker apparently broke down on the the Steve Biko Bridge on the way to the fire this morning.
Sources in the force, who have been warning of the collapse of the BCM fire engine fleet, said they were desperate as they had no vehicle to respond to the fire.
“We are not fighting the fire. We have no vehicle,” said a source.
However, by the time the Dispatch arrived at the scene 30 minutes later, a police helicopter was in the air monitoring the safety of suburban homes and five BCM fire fighters were seen using beaters.
A fire engine and bush tender were at the scene and one hose was on the blaze. At one point, the fire engine left the smoking scene to fill up with water in West Bank.
The fire was fanned by a stiff and hot north-westerly berg wind.
Earlier, the Dispatch photographed what sources claimed was the first response vehicle, a tanker, standing on the bridge where it allegedly broke down.
Fire tanker breakdown delays response
Sources in the force, who have been warning of the collapse of the BCM fire engine fleet, said they were desperate as they had no vehicle to respond to the fire.
“We are not fighting the fire. We have no vehicle,” said a source.
However, by the time the Dispatch arrived at the scene 30 minutes later, a police helicopter was in the air monitoring the safety of suburban homes and five BCM fire fighters were seen using beaters.
A fire engine and bush tender were at the scene and one hose was on the blaze. At one point, the fire engine left the smoking scene to fill up with water in West Bank.
The fire was fanned by a stiff and hot north-westerly berg wind.
Earlier, the Dispatch photographed what sources claimed was the first response vehicle, a tanker, standing on the bridge where it allegedly broke down.
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