Elvis Blue brewing again after fire

Update

GEORGE NEWS - Were it not for a quick-thinking passer-by, three employees of Bargain Nursery and swift response from the George fire brigade, the popular Elvis Brew Padstal could have been destroyed by fire on Monday evening, 15 August.

"We had already closed shop and I was home when people started phoning me to tell me that the padstal was on fire," said owner Elvis Blue (Jan Hoogendyk) on Tuesday morning.

Luckily, but the time he arrived on the scene, the fire had been put out and the building had sustained only minor damage.

"I am extremely grateful to those who jumped in and started dousing the flames and the fire brigade who responded so quickly. Were it not for them, things might have been a lot different. This place is very special to us."

Although no serious damage was caused to the building, the business was closed on Tuesday as electrical cables had been damaged during the fire. By yesterday morning, Wednesday 17 August, it was business as usual and Elvis was brewing away again.

A close-up of the damage.

By the time of going to print, the cause of the fire, which started in the refuse storage at the back of the building, was not yet determined.

"We can't confirm what caused the fire. It could be anything. It could be a cigarette butt that was put out in a coffee cup or something. We don't know," said Hoogendyk.

According to an eyewitness, Gavin Wilson, who was on his way home from work at approximately 18:00, he saw black smoke bellowing from the building when he drove past.

He realised that the building was on fire and together with three employees from the adjacent Bargain Nursery, quickly manufactured a way to hose the fire until the fire brigade arrived on the scene.

"It was super scary and at times the four of us bolted away from the building," said Wilson. "I did fear for our safety as I was unsure of what the gas situation was or where the gas bottles were, but once I was able to peer over the fence and make sure, it was easy and we just kept on spraying the water until the fire brigade showed up."

George Herald spoke to Hoogendyk the following day.

By Wednesday morning it was business as usual and Elvis was back and brewing again.