Barnyard Gateway fire

October 21, 2010. The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway’s year-end show, The Absolute 80s, really “set the venue alight” when the opening night’s success was marred by a fire after the theatre had closed.

The fire at Barnyard Gateway around midnight last night appears to have been caused by a cigarette that set light to one of the leather couches in the smoking lounge. Gateway’s control room was alerted to the fire when the smoke detector’s alarm sounded around midnight after the venue had been locked up and, upon inspection by centre security, found thick smoke coming from the venue and water from the sprinkler system.

Pictured left: Antwyne Magnussen (senior fireman), Katarzyna Florys (Barnyard manager) and Debbie Davidson (Barnyard owner).

Theatre manager Kim Davidson, said the venue would be closed until next Tuesday at the very least as they had sustained serious water damage. “The switchboard, electrics and bar area are soaked and we won’t be back on track until next Tuesday at the earliest.”

Call The Barnyard for shows information at 031 566 3045.

Davidson said that the fire chief had arrived on the scene on Thursday and required a structural engineer’s certificate before the venue would be able to operate again.

“This is absolutely essential and we totally understand their position. The safety of staff, performers and patorns comed first,” she said.

Extensive damage

Umhlanga Fire Station was immediately called in to respond and firemen were able to control the fire, extinguishing it before extensive damage was done.

While fire damage was confined to the smoking lounge on the mezzanine level, there is extensive water and smoke damage, not only to the theatre, but also to other Gateway tenants. Assessments and reports are still awaited, but it’s anticipated that total damage caused from the fire could run into millions of rands.

Theatre owner Debbie Davidson was called to the site by Gateway centre management, where she assessed the situation with eThekwini Fire’s Division Commander Kanniappen and his team.

“This is obviously a very unfortunate incident but, all things considered, I am very relieved that the fire was contained and relatively little damage done to the venue. It’s thanks to swift action taken by Gateway’s services and the Umhlanga Fire Department that the venue was saved and the centre was not more severely damaged,” said Davidson.

The Absolute 80’s, due to run at The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway until 9 January, is expected to return to the stage at the soonest opportunity next week.  Call The Barnyard for shows information at 031 566 3045.