Four patients have been treated – one of whom has been transported to a nearby medical facility for further care – following a chemical incident at Ecowize in Montague Gardens.

Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services responded to calls of smoke emanating from Ecowize at around 3:30pm on Monday, spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse said.

“The first responding officer immediately recognised that this is a chemical incident.

“Apart from evacuating the building, an isolation area was established as well as a 300 metre containment area,” Carelse said.

Hazmat technicians had arrived on scene and would do a visual inspection to verify any thermal signatures and chemical reactions.

“They will be wearing fully encapsulated suits in order to work in the prevailing conditions,” Carelse said.

“For now, we reiterate our call to the public to steer clear of the area, to not drive through the plume and to keep doors and windows closed, and switch off their air-conditioning units.”

Earlier, Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Charlotte Powell said according to latest information, the chemical incident was linked to operations on the premises, and not a fire.

The Fire and Rescue Service had located the company representatives and were working with them to make the area safe and stop the plume that has originated from the building. 

“Firefighters also started evacuating the premises, as well as the area 200 metres downwind from the plume.”

Cape Times

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