SEVERAL shops burnt to ashes after a generator malfunctioned in one of the shops at Palm Springs Mall in the Vaal on Wednesday morning, 26 April.
The fire burned down a furniture shop, a home shop and a pharmacy.
A few people tried to get into a renowned restaurant to loot before the fire could reach the store, but police stopped them.
The fire and rescue team arrived to extinguish the fire.
City of Joburg emergency spokesman Robert Mulaudzi said they sent their freighters from Lawley station to help Emfuleni firefighters.
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"No one was injured, and we are still waiting for Emfuleni to give a report," he said.
Emfuleni Local Municipality spokesman, Makhosonke Sangweni, said the block of a building consisting of nine shops caught fire.
“Four shops were burned to ashes while firefighters were able to extinguish the fire,” he said.
Sangweni said that in the nine shops, one had switched a generator inside the shop, and it exploded and started the fire.
