KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna firefighters had a trying task of taming two devastating fires in town on Wednesday night, May 6.
The first fire, which broke out at about 19:30 at the Boatshed building on Thesen Island, spread quickly due to the building's original wooden structure. Like other buildings in Thesen Harbour Town, the Boatshed is a redeveloped and modernised structure that originally formed part of a timber processing and boat building plant.
Two iconic businesses, the Île de Païn bakery and restaurant and Thesen Island developer Chris Mulder's CMAI Architects, were gutted. The other businesses housed there suffered mostly smoke, heat and water damage. While The Lofts Boutique Hotel escaped the raging fire's wrath, the guests were evacuated.
When the Knysna-Plett Herald visited the scene on the ill-fated Wednesday night, onlookers, tenants and business owners were still in shock and prevented from assessing the true extent of the fire due to the fierce flames as well as the fact that load-shedding plunged the area in darkness.
After being alerted to the fire on Facebook, Knysna executive mayor Georlene Wolmarans also visited the scene of the fire at around 22:00.
She introduced Knysna-Plett Herald staff to fire chief Clinton Manuel, who said that he was satisfied the fire was contained. He had deployed all Knysna's firefighters, including off-duty members. It took three fire engines to extinguish the fire.
According to Knysna munivipal manager Grant Easton, the Knysna Fire Department arrived at the scene at 19:40 . The fire spread rapidly and firefighters conducted an external attack on the fire. A total of three fire engines and 20 firefighters, including volunteers, were involved.
He said, "Law Enforcement officers assisted with evacuating people and belongings out of the building. There is extensive water and smoke damage in the building. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Fortunately no persons were injured."
Owners of Île de Païn restaurant, Liezie Mulder and Markus Farbinger, were away on their annual leave, but the next day they posted on the eatery's Facebook page: "Thank you for all your good thoughts and wishes. We will just grow stronger with such enthusiasm and support. Love, trust and have faith in life."
This was followed by a long message on May 10, expressing their gratitude to Knysna and its authorities. This message also included the following hopeful words: "Only now can we feel how much Île de Païn meant to us as a place to work, play, respite and share our lives. What initially may make us feel that something has been taken from us is slowly already replaced by an opportunity to create new, to exercise our creativity, to join efforts with the community close and far, hand in hand and in spirit.
"Feelings of abundance will rise from the ruins. Actions of love and sharing will soon build something new, something inspiring, something that will fill all of our souls once again. Wholesome intentions will make way to new creation."
At about 23:00 on that same night, the Knysna Fire Department was alerted to another raging fire at a home in Campbell Drive, Knysna Heights.
The neighbour Trish Griffin said upon hearing the explosions, she looked out of the window and was horrified to see “huge flames” next door. She said she immediately put her dogs away, grabbed her family photo album and other sentimental belongings, locked it in the trunk of her car, before rushing next door.
“Fortunately for us and Thesen Island there was no wind that night," Griffin said.
She called the fire brigade and the police who were there within minutes.
Municipal manager, Easton said whilst the Knysna Fire Department was busy with the fire on Thesen Island, the station received another call to report the burning house in Campbell Drive. “A fire engine was dispatched immediately. When the team arrived the double garage at the house was on fire and there were two cars parked inside.”
Easton said further that the timber flooring of the flat above the garage caused the fire to spread rapidly. He said a total of three fire engines and eight firefighters were eventually at the scene and the fire was extinguished before it could spread to the main house or further.
However, when the Knysna-Plett Herald called the owner, Elaine Young at noon the following day, she anxiously said that in some places the fire was still smouldering and that she was waiting for the fire-brigade to arrive for a second time.
Lou Young, Elaine’s daughter-in-law, said on Thursday, May 7, while Elaine was at the burnt-out house salvaging what she could from the ashes, that the two cars "exploded" shortly after the power returned at 22:30, after load-shedding.
According to Lou, both cars are completely burnt out and the house was extensively damaged. “Everything is gone. The house is totally wrecked and not habitable,” said Lou.
Lou thought the fire may have been an electrical fault related to load-shedding, which was "sparked" by something that tripped when the electricity came back on.
Elaine said on Monday, May 11 that she and her husband were unsure what caused the fire and were waiting for a forensic report. Fortunately, no-one was hurt in the fire.
Click here for previous articles:
- Update: Ile de Pain restaurant fire
- Update: Fire destroys Ile de Pain restaurant
- Update: Ile de Pain restaurant burns down
- Iconic Knysna restaurant burning down
The raging fire inside Île de Païn on Thesen Island on May 6. Photo:
Onlookers stand and stare at the horror of the fire raging through Île de Païn restaurant on Thesen Island.
ARTICLE: INGRID LEHMENSICH-BOTHA, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD CORRESPONDENT.
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