A massive fire erupted at the NCT Woodchip mill in Richards Bay on Saturday afternoon, triggering a rapid response from both the City of uMhlathuze Fire and Rescue Department and the Port of Richards Bay firefighting teams.
The fire spread to the conveyor belt system at the mill, intensifying the emergency situation.
The Richards Bay Clean Air Association (RBCAA) issued a warning concerning the wind direction which could have exacerbated the situation on Saturday. The fire was under control by Sunday, according to Transnet National Ports Authority spokesperson, Nkululeko Molefe.
On Monday residents around the site were told that it was safe, but they were still urged to be cautious.
At the height of the fire Sandy Camminga, a spokesperson for RBCAA, advised residents, particularly those in Arboretum Extension, to take necessary precautions to protect their health and safety while the threat was prevalent.
The cause of the fire and the scale of the damage is not known at this stage.
South African exports of woodchips, sawdust and wood waste and scrap metal, mainly to China, were $46.58m in 2022, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. About 70% of what is produced locally is exported.
Piled woodchips continually decompose, generating high temperatures. Because of this, a large enough pile of it can create sufficient heat to spontaneously combust, according to an internet search.
