Meltdown damages shoe factory

GEORGE NEWS - A shoe factory on the corner of York and Laing Streets will be closed for a number of weeks due to the outbreak of a fire last Monday, 1 June. The owner of Bummel Shoes, Michael Stumpfe, is grateful that no one was injured.

"From what we could establish the fire broke out shortly after the power returned that evening, following a few hours of load shedding from 16:00 to 18:00. It is not certain what caused the fire," said Stumpfe.

"The fire alarm went off and we raced to the shop. The heat and smoke were immense. The owner of the building, Pierre Joubert, and myself managed to put the fire out. The fire brigade came later and made sure that everything was safe."

Municipal spokesperson Chantèl Edwards-Klose confirmed that the fire had already been extinguished when the firefighters arrived on the scene.

"They proceeded to do mopping up and ensure that the building was safe. The cause of the fire was undetermined."

The fire caused a lot of damage.

Stumpfe said a lot of things in the factory were melted, including a good number of shoes: "Luckily our storeroom and showroom are untouched. We are so grateful that it didn't spread to all our leathers and shoes."

He said they could open their showroom in the meanwhile to sell the stock they have.

The computer resembles a surrealistic painting of Salvador Dali.

According to Stumpfe it seems as though the fire started at the computer in the back of the factory. He named a power surge after load shedding as a possible cause.