Blaze ravages Empangeni airfield
Dalena van Jaarsveld
TWO aircraft and the hangars they were stored in were destroyed when a fire - thought to have been started by people attempting to loot fuel - ravaged the Empangeni airfield in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The Fire Department arrived on the scene sometime between 3.30 and 4am, but the fire had already destroyed most of the hangars and the two aeroplanes could not be saved.
Another plane was also damaged when an adjoining hangar caught fire, and after the fire was extinguished, the hangar was propped up with poles to avoid collapse onto the third plane, which suffered extensive damage to its windscreen, tail and the top part of the wings as a result of the extreme heat.
Owner Gerald Paxman, although relieved that the plane had been saved, said that it would have to go for extensive safety tests and repairs before flying again.
Footprints and empty fuel bins in the other, bigger hangars on the field spoke volumes as to who might have been the guilty parties.
Airfield manager Eugene Voges said that they had had problems with thieves looting fuel during the past week, and considered getting a 24-hour guard on the premises, but the decision had not yet been made when disaster struck.
He commended the Fire Department and Farm Watch for their speedy responses, which prevented further damages.
Although not official, the loss is estimated to be more than R3-million.
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