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🔥 10 Common Fire Myths & Facts in South Africa – What You Need to Know to Stay Safe
South Africa has seen its fair share of devastating fires — from the tragic 2021 Parliament fire in Cape Town to industrial blazes in Gauteng. Despite increased awareness, fire myths are still common in households, offices, and even construction sites. These misconceptions can lead to delayed responses, injuries, or worse.
At Simply Fire, we believe that knowledge is the first line of defense. Here's a breakdown of 10 common fire myths and facts, how fires originate, and how to extinguish them — with real South African examples to bring it home.
🔥 Myth #1: "Fires only happen to other people."
✅ Fact: Fires can happen to anyone, anytime.
South African Example: In 2022, more than 100 families lost everything when a fire broke out in the Langa informal settlement in Cape Town. It started with a single faulty electrical connection.
Takeaway: Every home and business should have a fire safety plan and basic firefighting tools on hand — fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and smoke alarms.
🔥 Myth #2: "Water can put out any fire."
✅ Fact: Water can worsen fires involving oil, electricity, or chemicals.
Real Incident: In Johannesburg, a house fire escalated after a resident poured water on a burning stove with hot oil — a classic Class B fire. The oil splattered and caused burns and wider fire spread.
Tip: For grease or electrical fires, use a CO₂ or dry chemical fire extinguisher — not water.
🔥 Myth #3: "If I don’t see flames, it’s safe."
✅ Fact: Smoke inhalation is often deadlier than the fire itself.
South African Example: During the 2021 Charlotte Maxeke hospital fire, large parts of the hospital had to be evacuated due to toxic smoke, not visible flames.
Advice: Install smoke detectors and prioritize ventilation and escape before re-entering smoke-filled areas.
🔥 Myth #4: "Fires are usually caused by arson."
✅ Fact: Most fires are caused by human error — not intentional acts.
Example: Eskom reports frequent transformer and substation fires due to illegal connections and overloading, not arson.
Lesson: Regular maintenance and proper installation by certified technicians can prevent the majority of accidental fires.
🔥 Myth #5: "Fire extinguishers are all the same."
✅ Fact: Different types of extinguishers are designed for different fires.
Water – for wood, paper (Class A)
Foam – for flammable liquids (Class B)
CO₂ – for electrical fires (Class C)
Dry Chemical – multipurpose
Wet Chemical – for cooking oil fires (Class K)
SA Insight: A Pretoria factory fire in 2023 grew uncontrollably when staff used a water extinguisher on a chemical blaze.
🔥 Myth #6: "Once a fire starts, I have plenty of time."
✅ Fact: A small fire can become life-threatening in under 2 minutes.
Example: In a Bloemfontein warehouse fire, the building collapsed within 7 minutes of ignition. Employees barely escaped.
Rule: React immediately. Sound alarms, evacuate, and call emergency services as soon as a fire is noticed.
🔥 Myth #7: "If the power is off, there’s no fire risk."
✅ Fact: Load shedding increases fire risks due to faulty re-connections, candles, and generators.
Case: The rise in candle-related shack fires during load shedding in areas like Khayelitsha shows how false this myth is.
Solution: Use battery-powered lights, check electrical equipment, and never leave open flames unattended.
🔥 Myth #8: "A fire extinguisher will always work."
✅ Fact: Without regular servicing, extinguishers can fail.
Incident: A Durban office building fire spread when none of the extinguishers discharged — they were over 5 years past their last inspection.
Action: Have your extinguishers checked and re-certified annually, as per SANS 1475 regulations.
🔥 Myth #9: "Only professionals can fight fires."
✅ Fact: With the right training, anyone can put out a small fire safely.
Example: A security guard at a Cape Town warehouse used a CO₂ extinguisher to suppress an electrical panel fire before the fire brigade arrived — saving millions in damage.
Advice: Train staff on how to use extinguishers, assess risk, and know when to evacuate.
🔥 Myth #10: "You can smell smoke before it’s dangerous."
✅ Fact: Many fires produce odourless toxic gases long before visible smoke.
Lesson from SA: In several Gauteng fires, unconsciousness due to carbon monoxide occurred within minutes — before the fire was even noticed.
Must-have: Install carbon monoxide detectors in areas with heaters, stoves, or boilers.
🔎 How Does a Fire Start?
Fire requires the Fire Triangle:
- Heat
- Fuel
- Oxygen
A small ignition source (like a cigarette or spark) can escalate into a blaze if all three elements are present. Disrupt any one of them, and you stop the fire.
🧯 How to Extinguish a Fire Successfully
Identify the type of fire (A, B, C, D, or K)
Use the correct extinguisher
For example, CO₂ for electrical, foam for petrol, dry powder for general use.
Use the PASS method:
- Pull the pin
- Aim at the base
- Squeeze the handle
- Sweep from side to side
- Call emergency services even if you extinguish the fire.
- Evacuate if you’re unsure or the fire grows.
🔐 Final Words from Simply Fire
Understanding fire behavior and busting myths can mean the difference between life and death. Whether you're in a suburban home, corporate office, or on a construction site — fire safety is everyone's responsibility.
💬 Need fire training, inspections, or equipment servicing? Simply Fire is proud to serve South African businesses and homes with SABS-approved equipment, installations, and certifications.