City’s Fire Service pivots to address new fire risks

05 July 2023

With the increased usage of alternative power sources to mitigate the impacts of load-shedding, the City’s Fire & Rescue Service has to revisit its incident management playbook, and urges extreme caution and vigilance from the public. 

The City's Fire and Rescue Service notes the increased use of items like inverters and other items, powered by rechargeable batteries, solar installations and the use of generators.

While these devices are fulfilling a crucial role in keeping users' lights on, and keeping their businesses going during load-shedding, users are also reminded that they can pose a risk if not installed, stored or utilised properly. In fact, systems that are not installed properly, safely and legally are one of the largest contributors to extended power outages.

Solar PV and/or battery systems must be installed by a competent installer who must provide a Certificate of Compliance.

All systems that are connected to the wiring of the building must be registered with the City of Cape Town before installation and, from October 2023, only City-approved inverters will be accepted for these systems. This is to reduce the risk of electrocution of those working on electrical grids and also to speed up the solar system authorisation turnaround time.

For more information visit www.capetown.gov.za/solarpv  

Some incidents that the Fire & Rescue Service has dealt with in recent times include:

• Four persons overcome by fumes from a generator in Parow. One passed away
• A gas explosion at a home in Hout Bay, caused by the gas source not being switched off, resulting in an occupant sustaining burn wounds

• A fire on a truck transporting a load of lithium-ion batteries.  Firefighters managed to prevent the fire from spreading to the trailer, avoiding a major hazard
• The batteries on an inverter in a store situated in a mall ignited, resulting in the mall having to close its doors while the incident was attended to
• Solar panels on the roof of a factory caused the wires to arch, resulting in a fire. Firefighters had to wait for technicians to isolate the panels first before they could extinguish the fire
• A firefighter was called on to extinguish a fire at a neighbouring property, after a battery bank overheated due to insufficient ventilation
   
  
  'The City appreciates that residents want to protect themselves from the impacts of load-shedding, and many households and businesses nowadays are using various alternative power sources. However, the handful of incidents that we have on file are more than enough evidence that we all need to be incredibly cautious and vigilant about how we use and store these energy devices. Ventilation is a key consideration, because of the risk of noxious gases from the use of petrol or diesel, but there is also the very real risk of devices overheating and catching fire.
  
   
  'In the event of a fire, these new age batteries also require very specific firefighting methods, so households and businesses need to ensure that they have the correct fire extinguishers on hand for their specific needs. Our Fire & Rescue Service is also having to factor these developments into their incident management plans, because fighting a fire caused by conventional means is one thing – a fire caused by a generator or lithium-ion batteries or a building with a solar installation is quite another,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
  
   
  Electrical equipment not switched off prior to the power coming back on after load-shedding and incorrectly installed/unapproved solar PV and/or battery systems increase the risk of electricity tripping, and fire hazards.
  
   
   
  
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office