No injuries or fatalies in Johannesburg CBD fire, police rules out foul play

All residents have been safely evacuated after a fire broke out at a building in Rissick Street, Johannesburg, earlier on Thursday, an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson confirmed.

"We received a call about a structural fire. We managed to contain the fire and all residents were evacuated safely. No one was treated for smoke inhalation," Nana Radebe said at the scene. 

A shop owner recounted to News24 what had happened.

"When the fire started, we started running. All our TVs are burnt. We have lost everything," Kenneth Okoro said.

Captain Xoli Mbele said police would investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire. 

"We don't suspect any foul play, but we as the police are opening an inquiry. We will wait for a report from the EMS and we will take it from there," Mbele added.

Residents have started returning to their homes while some went to go fetch what was left of their belongings.

^{A trail of destruction in the wake of the fire. (Chanté Schatz, News24)}

^{The aftermath of the fire. (Chanté Schatz, News24)}

^{The fire brigade at the scene of the fire. (Chanté Schatz, News24)}

^{The building in Rissick Street that caught fire. (Chanté Schatz, News24)}

KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE newsletter.

- FOLLOW News24 on Twitter