It has been reported that a fire broke out at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Glen Residence on Main Road, Rosebank on 12 September 2022. The university’s Campus Protection Services responded by alerting the Salt River Fire Station to attend to the fire.
The UCT Communication and Marketing Department said the firefighters who were at the scene managed to successfully contain and extinguish the fire in less than an hour since the fire had broken.
In a statement, the university has shared:
There were no injuries to students or staff members at the time.
It is said that after the fire was detected, all affected students were swiftly evacuated from the student residence and were safely accommodated in UCT’s other residences.
This was done through the coordinated efforts between the university’s Properties & Services and its Department of Student Affairs.
Some students who later complained of smoke inhalation were treated, with three treated at the scene by private emergency medical care provider, ER24 and one taken to hospital for further treatment.
With some students being traumatised by the incident, the university offered assistance through its Student Wellness Service unit for students who are in need of trauma counselling.
According to the university, a fact-finding investigation is currently in progress. This comes after the university is recovering from a fire that resulted in its iconic library being engulfed in flames over a year ago.
