The Citizen reports that the trauma of losing three of their colleagues in Wednesday’s fatal fire in Johannesburg has led to more firefighters being hospitalised.  In addition to the deaths, about eight firefighters were hospitalised for injuries and smoke inhalation on Wednesday.  

On Thursday, a ninth person was admitted to hospital due to exhaustion.  Johannesburg EMS spokesperson Nana Radebe said up to four firefighters were suffering from traumatic stress and shock after losing their colleagues.  She indicated that all the affected firefighters would receive trauma counseling.  “Yesterday [on Wednesday] we had eight firefighters that were sent to hospital, we just had one more from City of Tshwane that will be taken to hospital, he suffered from exhaustion and he is stable at the moment,” Radebe indicated.  Emergency management services (EMS) continued battling to contain the blaze on Thursday, which had spread to lower floors of the Bank of Lisbon building.  The fire was contained on Thursday night.

• Read this report by Chisom Jenniffer Okoye in full at The Citizen
• Read too, Fire at Gauteng Health building in Joburg CBD extinguished, at The Citizen

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page