WATCH: Shack fire in Alexandra
ALEXANDRA - A shack fire has broken out in Alexandra earlier today.
UPDATE: 13 November 2015, 3pm – An elderly Busisiwe Booi lost R15 000 and her shack, and another woman was taken to hospital after fainting, suspected to be the result of smoke inhalation after a fire razed 15 to 20 shacks on Alfred Nzo and 10th Avenue mid-morning on 13 November.
The fire saw residents spring into action with buckets of water to try and extinguish the fire before Emergency Management Services arrived in several trucks. Onlookers watched as the inferno raged for about an hour before it was finally put out.
The scene was tragic, with some narrating their loss while others helped to sift through the rubble for anything they could salvage, in most cases to no avail.
One of them was seen going through drawers of a half burnt cupboard with the melted frame of a television on the remaining part of the cupboard.
Booi, who sobbed when speaking about the loss of her money, said it was the stokvel collection for her club members for the entire year. She is the club treasurer and said she kept the money under a mattress, which was also destroyed.
“My burnt out possessions can be replaced but what will I do about the money?” she asked tearfully.
The woman who fainted was helped by paramedics to an ambulance and is said to be stable. Other residents speculated that she may have fainted when she found out her shack had also been destroyed.
Another victim, Sfiso Magola, said he lost R20 000 in cash and all his property, including a television, washing machine, fridge, beds, computer, stove, pots and pans and important documents.
“I was at work and had to rush here but it was too late as the fire was uncontrollable before the fire department arrived.”
Another victim, Busisiwe Mgele, said she lost R1 000, her children’s and relatives’ birth certificates, Identity Documents and all her property worth thousands of rands.
The DA’s proportional representative councillor, Shadrack Mkhonto, said unexpected fires will always be part of Alexandra as long as residents lived in overcrowded shacks. “I will liaise with councillor Chris Mabunda… so that we can engage disaster management to provide immediate relief for the victims until a thorough assessment of the cause of the fire and the loss to residents is determined,” said Mkhonto.
“Some of the victims will need duplicate Identity Documents, and disaster management will need to verify all lost property and provide alternative accommodation. Luckily no one was injured or died,” he said.
The EMS spokesperson is still to be contacted for comment, but counterparts onsite said the usual process of ensuring relief support would be activated, as the matter was an emergency.
UPDATE: 13 November 2015, 13:30pm – According to our journalist at the scene, it is believed about 20 shacks have been completely destroyed in the blaze.
Residents are assisting firefighters at the scene carrying buckets of water to help fight the blaze.
It is believed that no one has been injured in the fire apart from a female who fainted from what is believed to be because of smoke inhalation.
According to officials at the scene, they believed the fire was started by a stove that was left on.
Updates to follow.
Shack Fire in Alex a short while ago. Fortunately only 25 shacks destroyed. #AlexFire pic.twitter.com/T2weGXzG5T
— Gift of the Givers (@GiftoftheGivers) November 13, 2015
#AlexFire EMS say a full investigation is now underway to determine what caused the fire. ML
— Mia Lindeque (@MiaLindeque) November 13, 2015
#AlexFire Radebe: We will know the cause of the fire as soon as investigations are done. No injuries were reported during the incident.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) November 13, 2015
UPDATE: #AlexFire Johannesburg Emergency Services (EMS) has confirmed that 17 shacks have been burned down in Alexandra.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) November 13, 2015
INITIAL REPORT: A shack fire has broken out in Alexandra earlier today.
It is believed that Johannesburg Emergency Services are at the scene fighting the blaze. At this stage it is unknown how many shacks are caught up in the blaze.
Updates to follow.
View some tweets about the fire below:
RT @ZikhonaTshona: Residents helping fire fighters fight the blaze. #AlexFire pic.twitter.com/RVP5SBwZBB
— eNCA (@eNCA) November 13, 2015
#AlexFire Johannesburg Emergency Services say they are on scene in Alexandra where shacks are burning down.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) November 13, 2015
#AlexFire Spokesperson for the JHB Emergency Services, Nana Radebe says details of the number or shacks that have burned are not known yet.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) November 13, 2015
RT @ZikhonaTshona: Residents tried to salvage whatever they can. Three fire trucks on site. #AlexFire pic.twitter.com/G8RFgCzwwW
— eNCA (@eNCA) November 13, 2015
Click here to read more on shack fires in Alexandra:
People lose valuables in shack fire worth 1000’s of rands
