#Durbanfire should no longer affect residents: officials

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The warehouse which is owned by Transnet caught alight on Friday morning, with flames gutting a section of the facility which was storing wax products. 

Officials say another part of the warehouse had highly flammable and explosive material including hay bales, fertiliser and ammonium but the fire was stopped from spreading there and a disaster was averted.

Divisional Commander at the eThekwini Fire Department, Alfred Newman says it will be days before the fire is completely out. 

"We've knocked off all the areas that were producing smog - affecting the community. Thereafter, we will start knocking off the rest of the flames. We're going to need help of companies with graders and firefighters to assist in terms of damping down the rest," he said. 

Newman has thanked residents and local businesses who've been providing food and drinks for firefighting crews.

"We'd like to convey a special thanks to the community for the support throughout this call. We'd like to say a big thank you to everybody - the numerous NGOs and businesses who provided refreshments to the firefighters ," he said. 

Meanwhile, Environmental Affairs says samples of water and soil have been sent to a laboratory in Johannesburg to test for contamination and pollution following the blaze.

Spokesperson for the Department, Bongani Tembe says a team comprising water, air quality and other experts has been specially put together to keep an eye on the situation. 

A Durban North hardware store owner says people have been streaming into his shop looking for products to clean residue off their walls and in their pools.  

Polluted rain water could be seen falling in Durban due to the thick, black smoke emanating from the inferno - sparking fears of potential health risks.  

Andre Lindeque says some are also questioning the safety of the water in their storage tanks - which they use for showering, filling up swimming pools & filter for drinking. 

"I believe it will be impossible to actually flush everything out - all that soot out of their JoJo tanks and many people haven't even realised this. There's a major problem with that water," he said.