Johannesburg’s beloved Zoo Lake Bowls Club has been left in ruins after a fire tore through the century-old landmark in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Residents out on their morning jogs watched in shock as thick black smoke and flames rose from the clubhouse just after 6:00.
Fire Ops SA and the City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Management Services (EMS) rushed to the scene, where the fire had already ripped through the timber roof in two sections.
More than 25 firefighters worked for hours to contain the blaze, which was intensified by the building’s wooden framework and ongoing renovations.
By 10:00, the fire was under control, though crews and a drone operator remained on site to check for hotspots.
“It spread rapidly, and flames had already broken through the roof by the time we arrived,” said Fire Chief Rudie Swanepoel.