Families are displaced after fierce fire at Glenvegan Court

Several families have been forced out of their homes weeks before Christmas after a fire broke out at Glenvegan Court on Dunvegan Avenue, Edenvale.

The incident, which happened on the evening of December 3, has left many traumatised and trying to rebuild in time for the festive season.

Residents who saw the incident told Bedfordview and Edenvale News that it was an ordinary Sunday night until an unexpected fire broke out in a duplex on the first floor.

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Residents enjoying tea on the ground-floor patio told the News they smelt something “funny”.

“I walked on the grass to look up at the building to see what was happening. That’s when I realised there was a fire in the flat above, and we started shouting for our children to get out of the building,” said the residents.

Allegedly, the fire started in a bedroom between 19:30 and 20:00.

The residents said they didn’t expect the fire to be so bad.

A pet rat and a cat died on the scene.

The CoE DEMS spokesperson, William Ntladi, said they received a call about the fire at 20:36.

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“The firefighting team from Edenvale Fire Station received a well-alight structural call at Glenvegan Court, Dunvegan Avenue, Edenvale.

“Firefighters, immediately after receiving the call, responded to the scene for intervention. On arrival, they found a four-storey block of flats engulfed by flames.”

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Ntladi said they assessed the building before initiating fire suppression.

For a sustained water supply, crews connected directly to the fire hydrant.

He said they called more backup to the scene because of the magnitude of the blaze. Bedfordview, Albertina Sisulu and Primrose fire station crews responded as backup units.

“It took 16 firefighters to completely extinguish the fire and protect other parts of the structure.

“Search and rescue action was conducted after extinguishing the blaze, and all residents escaped without injuries, except one adult, who had to be treated for smoke inhalation but refused hospitalisation,” added Ntladi.

The scene was handed to the SAPS for further investigations with DEMS officers.

The Edenvale CPF has partnered with the Little Wish Foundation to gather donations for the affected families.
Those willing to contribute can email info@edenvalecpf.co.za

Items needed include non-perishable food, blankets, clothing, shoes for men, women and children and pet food.