SAPS searching for owner of Mayfair building damaged in fire

JOHANNESBURG - As police continue to search for the owner of a building that went up in flames on Wednesday in Mayfair, investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire.

Emergency crews said the shop and adjoining rooms were engulfed in flames shortly after 1pm on Wednesday afternoon.

Firefighters have since managed to extinguish the blaze, and no injuries or fatalities have been reported.

READ: Building fire in Mayfair destroys shop, three rooms

With heavy smoke still drifting across the intersection of Albertina Sisulu Road and Church Street, firefighters have spent hours damping down hotspots inside the charred structure.

Curious residents, many sheltering under plastic and umbrellas, have been looking on as officials comb through the debris, taking photos and speaking to witnesses.

Police on the scene confirm the owner of the building remains unaccounted for, nor have they come forward to account for the property.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, with authorities warning it could take time to determine whether it was accidental or negligent.

Officials have again urged residents to handle electrical appliances responsibly and to report any unsafe buildings to authorities.