Plumes of black smoke blanketed Woodstock today as a fire broke out in a furniture shop at about 2pm.
Firefighters, law and traffic enforcement personnel, security companies and Woodstock Improvement District workers were on the scene in Victoria Road, between Pine and Woodland roads. According to bystanders, it is believed the owner was not on the premises at the time.
The City’s Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Jermaine Carelse said they had been alerted to the fire at 1.51pm and crews from Salt River and Roeland Street fire stations were soon on the scene.
Firefighters quickly contained the fire and stopped it spreading to other shops, he said.
“The building consisted of five shops, of which one was completely destroyed. The shop in question was seemingly a workshop – motor bikes and welding – explaining the black smoke that was emitted as a result of the fire,“ Mr Carelse added.
The fire was extinguished just before 3pm and the building owner was instructed not to continue trading until the damages to the roof had been inspected by a structural engineer.
