Dozens Bakery alight in Epping. Picture: Screengrab
Cape Town - Epping’s cherished Dozens Bakery has closed its doors after a devastating fire, leaving staff and the owner to face an uncertain future.
For over 30 years, the establishment has been a cornerstone of the community, known for its quality baked goods and commitment to affordability.
Speaking to the Cape Argus, bakery owner Steve van Aardt said the impact of the tragedy is felt deeply by those who have supported Dozens Bakery.
“I sat at home with my head in my hands, contemplating the next steps.
“What about all our staff, what about all our wholesale customers, and what about our beautiful factory shop that you have all so wonderfully supported?
“I think one of the hardest parts about it is that we created this factory shop for the community here and we kept our pricing low.
“Yes, of course, when you run a business, you want to make money. But we’re also very, very aware of the community that surrounds us, and we were able to give them a really good quality product at affordable prices.”
Van Aardt said the business’s potential for a successful restart is uncertain as large-scale business is not easy to restart.
“I don’t know what the future holds because there’s a process now with regards to forensic investigation and the insurance process.
“Until we have clarity with regards to that, we don’t know whether we’ll be able to restart this business or not, although our first and main priority is to restart it,” Van Aardt said.
The City’s Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said an emergency call was received of a building alight in Bofors Circle, Epping Industria 2, at around 10pm on Thursday.
“It appeared that the fire originated from a bakery and then spread to adjacent buildings.
“The first arriving officer made a quick assessment and called for additional resources to contain the blaze – almost 50 staff battled the fire during the course of the night and morning.
“Three divisions were established (Alpha, Bravo and Charlie) to maximise the firefighting efforts.
“At around 00.20am the fire was contained, which caused extensive damage to the building and a building inspector was requested as the integrity of the walls was compromised.
“Just after 11.00am, the last of the crews withdrew from the premises but continued to monitor the property every few hours for flare-ups,” he said.
Carelse said the Fire Safety division made the decision to cordon-off the area and not to let anyone enter the premises until a structural engineer made an assessment.
“No injuries were sustained during this incident and the cause will be investigated,” he said.
sibuliso.duba@inl.co.za
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