Paarl Print fire: DoL enquiry pending

In a statement issued yesterday, 23 February 2010, the company says that it has on several occasions publicly committed itself to determine the origin, cause and spread of the fire with the primary aim to ensure that a similar event does not reoccur.

It believes that through the expertise of independent specialists, the origin, cause and spread of the fire have been determined, which was that the fire originated in the canteen on the mezzanine floor of the bindery; that in all probability it was caused by the auto-ignition of cooking oil in an oil fryer; and that the reason for the extremely rapid, uncontrollable and unique spread of the fire through the facility was the ignition of the thermal under-roof insulation material.