MARK and Tracey Peterson lost most of their belongings and a pet parrot after their house in De Wet Street, Alberante, burnt down on June 13 at 7.45pm.
A gas heater that could have been faulty is believed to be the cause of the fire.
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The Peterson’s switched on the heater in their lounge and flames went running down the pipe which was followed by fire.
“We immediately left the house as everything happened so quickly,” said house owner Mark.
Elowayne Gouws, a paramedic from Fox Medical Unit, said that when he arrived on-scene he tried to extinguish the fire with his fire extinguishers in his vehicle, but the smoke was too bad and he could not succeed. When the fire department arrived they ran out of water trying to put out the fire and when they tried to use the fire hydrant, which is on the corner of De Wet Street and Japie Geyling Steet, but there was no water in it so they called for back up.
According to Chantal Peel, a paramedic from National Paramedics, no one was injured.
Numerous emergency services and legal authorities responded to the scene as well as members of the public, who offered assistance and support to the family. Ekurhuleni Firefighters managed to contain and extinguish the fire by 9pm.
Mark said he is disappointed in the fire department as he struggled to get hold of them and they took their time attending to the matter. For now the family is taking it hour by hour and the RECORD will follow up with them to find out if the need anything.
* The RECORD asked for comment from the fire department and will publish it as soon as it is available.
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