According to the spokesperson for Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, William Ntladi, the fire was started by a paraffin stove that was unattended and, thus, exploded in the shack.
“The mother had left the baby inside the shack with the paraffin stove still on when she went to the spaza shop,” he says.
“When she returned the shack was well alight and the baby could not be rescued.”
Ntladi says the fire was reported on the Sunday morning at around 9.20am and the residents who called emergency services said the fire was well alight.
“On arrival, members of the community had tried to put the fire out using the bucket system and the responding fire station then extinguished the fire,” he explains.
“The baby was certified as dead on the scene.”
Ntladi says although the winter season has passed, at times temperatures drop and families revert to using equipment operated with gas or paraffin when warming up the house.
“We request that the community be vigilant when it comes to cooking and warming the house with gas and paraffin stoves and to not leave them on when leaving the house,” says Ntladi.
