Residents in Bulawayo have been urged to keep their distance during fire emergencies after authorities raised concern over dangerous public behaviour at incident scenes.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer, Mr Mhlangano Moyo, said emergency teams often struggle to carry out evacuations because some onlookers refuse to cooperate, putting themselves and others at risk.
During a recent fire in Donnington, large numbers of residents flocked to the scene, some still in nightwear and carrying blankets, drawn by curiosity rather than concern for safety.
Mr Moyo warned that such actions are especially hazardous at fuel-related incidents, where the risk of secondary explosions is high.
“People were standing too close and blocking emergency operations. We strongly advise the public to stay away from accident scenes, particularly fuel fires, as secondary blasts can cause serious injuries or even death,” he said.
He also highlighted the recurring problem of fuel siphoning when tankers overturn but do not immediately catch fire.
“When a tanker spills fuel, some individuals attempt to collect it. This behaviour is extremely dangerous and has led to fatal outcomes in the past,” Mr Moyo added.
Authorities say the rise in fuel-related fires has been linked to illegal electricity connections, unsafe fuel storage and handling, as well as failure to comply with safety standards, particularly at informal or unregulated fuel depots.
Emergency services have repeatedly stressed that fuel vapours are highly flammable and can ignite from even the smallest electrical spark.
A tragic example occurred in 2022, when a gas tanker explosion in Johannesburg, South Africa, killed at least ten people and injured more than forty others. The blast destroyed nearby homes, damaged a hospital and affected a retirement facility, underscoring the devastating consequences of fuel fires.
