VIDEO: Massive blaze tears through derelict Berea house
Residents in a neighbouring flat said they felt the heat of the flames across the road.
FLAMES engulfed an abandoned house on the corner of Problem Mkhize Road (Cowey Road) and Sandile Thusi Road (Argyle Road) on Thursday night.
Division Commander of the eThekwini Fire Department, Mervin Govender said they responded to the scene at approximately 11pm.
“It took about 60 minutes to extinguish the flames. No other buildings were affected and there were no injuries at the scene,” he said.
Kyle Van Reenen of Emer- G- Med Paramedics confirmed there were no injuries reported after the blaze.
Also read: Save Our Berea revisits ‘Trojan houses’
“We were on standby but there were no injuries reported, so we were not called to the scene,” he said.
A resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the Berea Mail that they felt the heat from the flames across the road from the burning structure.
“The heat was incredible. It was so scary. I worried about the house next door. I live in a flat nearby and I ran outside when I heard the noise. It almost sounded like gunshots. It was already a huge inferno when I saw the fire at about 11.30pm. The heat was coming across the road,” they said.
Also read: Residents angered by derelict Berea house
Cheryl Johnson of Save Our Berea said people were living in appalling conditions in the derelict building.
“I didn’t see the fire, but we have been involved for about six years in trying to put pressure on the Municipality to address the building. The owner had let it fall into disrepair. I believe he got a demolition permit but never used it. Instead the house had tenants living in it. I believe the owner tried to demolish the house about three weeks ago but the tenants protested saying they had no where to go,” she said.
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