THREE Bulawayo firefighters were injured in the line of duty while trying to extinguish a veldfire in Burnside on Thursday last week.
Bulawayo acting chief fire officer Lynos Phiri confirmed the incident last Friday, which he said was caused by heavy winds.
“The firefighters found the veldfire threatening houses near Munda Drive, Sparrow Lake Way and Starling Drive. The brigade managed to control the fire which was spreading rapidly due to winds. A fire tender caught fire in the process and injured the fire officers,’’ Phiri said.
“Three firefighters sustained varying degrees of injuries. There is one who sustained facial burns and on the left hand while the other one had burns on the left palm and minor facial burns.”
Phiri said the third firefighter suffered dehydration and stomach pains.
“The veldfire started from Burnside Road, opposite the Criterion Waterworks and with the aid of winds, it spread northwards covering a three-kilometre radius, including part of Munda Drive up to Starling Drive in Burnside,” he said.
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Phiri said the injured firemen were taken to hospital. Two were discharged on the same day while the third was still under observation.