Cable car station fire: 'Lithium battery fires are EXTREMELY dangerous and difficult to put out'

Lester Kiewit interviews Michael van Niekerk, CEO of ASP Fire.

Listen below.

The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company has confirmed that Cape Town Fire Services have successfully brought under control a fire that broke out around 1 pm yesterday in the parking garage of the lower station building on Tafelberg Road.

The fire was caused by lithium batteries, which serve as backup energy sources for operating the cable cars.

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According to Van Niekerk, as South Africans increasingly seek alternative energy solutions, the rise in photovoltaic (PV) installations has led to more incidents such as this one, primarily due to installations that have not been approved by qualified engineers.

This lack of oversight can lead to issues that pose fire hazards.

"Lithium battery fires are very, very difficult to put out... Very, very dangerous..."

- Michael van Niekerk, CEO – ASP Fire

Van Niekerk emphasises that the key to preventing these fires lies in proactive measures, such as installing a battery management system designed to mitigate the risk of fire from the outset.

Once a fire has started, however, he notes that these fires are self-sustaining, making it difficult for firefighters to extinguish them effectively.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.