Firefighters douse flames in parliament’s Old Assembly building

An investigation is being conducted to establish the cause of a fire in parts of parliament’s Old Assembly building in Cape Town.

The fire was successfully contained after it broke out on Tuesday night, affecting several upper floor offices and committee rooms, parliament said.

“These affected areas, including parts of the lower floor not affected by the fire, have been left flooded due to the activation of the fire sprinkler system.

“An immediate response by the city’s fire and rescue services successfully contained the fire. The cause is not known and no person was injured.”

The building is where the apartheid parliament used to sit and is nowadays used as a meeting venue by democratic SA's biggest caucus, the ANC.

Cape Town fire and rescue services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said fire crews from Roeland Street, Salt River, Sea Point, Brooklyn and Milnerton were dispatched.

“Upon arrival it was discovered that the fire was in the roof void. Crews managed to contain and extinguish the fire at 00.43am.

“Portable pumps were used to drain the water from the basement and ground floor. The fire originated in a room of the National Assembly.”

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