Date: October 1, 2023
Location: Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)
Address: Unknown
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Wood Dust
Industry: Wood Chip Production (Wood and Wood Products)
Equipment: Conveyor Belt
Company: NCT Wood Chip Mill
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, NCT Wood Chip Mill primarily focuses on supplying hardwood timber for pulpwood, primarily to wood chipping plants. The company owns and operates four wood chip mills, including BayFibre, NCT Durban Wood Chips, and NCT Richards Bay Wood Chips (all located in Richards Bay, except for NCT Durban Wood Chips). Additionally, NCT facilitates the trade of non-pulp round log timber, providing various secure market options, including saw timber, treated poles, mining timber, and charcoal markets across South Africa’s main timber-growing regions.
Incident Description:
On October 1, 2023, the South African reported a conveyor belt fire at a wood chip mill in Richards Bay, South Africa.
The City of uMhlathuze responded to an urgent call reporting the fire. Upon arrival, emergency services found that the fire had already consumed the wood chip stockpiles. The City’s fire department, aided by Mondi Fire Services, Transnet Fire Services, South 32, RBM, and other private companies, worked together to battle the flames.
Strong winds carried hot wood chips across the highway, igniting the green belt and neighbouring residential areas, but firefighters managed to control it before any property damage occurred. The fire burned for several hours before being extinguished.
No injuries were reported.
Sources:
South African
