PMB firefighters battle landfill site fire
Firefighters are currently on scene at Pietermaritzburg's New England landfill site where another blaze has broken out.
Msunduzi Municipality's Thobeka Mafumbatha says their fire department with the assistance of Working on Fire have been working non-stop since the early hours of this morning.
Mafumbatha says the fire has created a blanket of smoke over the city.
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'We do appeal, especially in the light of COVID-19 and there are people with underlying conditions, that people must stay at home," she said.
Mafumbatha says those who live close by such as Hayesfield are advised to close their windows and doors.
She says an investigation is underway to find out how the fire had started.
"A number of improvements have been done at the site, our weighbridges are working, a lot of compartment has been done and the site is looking fairly new. The area is being inspected.
#KZN_FireAlert: Fire 1: Firefighters from the Richmond Team has been dispatched to assist in the Msunduzi Dump Fire. Fire 2: 1 x Bomber contained a fire at Homesdale Plantation. Fire 3: 1 x Bomber dispatched to suppress a fire at the Mondli Teworth Plantation.#WinterFireSeason pic.twitter.com/uSSZ9CEVkt
— Working on Fire (@wo_fire) July 21, 2020
"So investigations are underway to find out what is happening and what could have contributed to this fire.," she added.
In February this year - the landfill had burned for a week - leaving residents with various health issues and forcing businesses and schools to close.
