Dozens left homeless after shack fire in Angelo
Scores of families have been left homeless after their shacks were gutted by a blaze in the Angelo informal settlement.
According to police reports, an unknown man set some of the shacks alight, resulting in the fire spreading to other shacks, on Sunday evening, March 6.
According to a spokesperson for the Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), William Ntladi, about 42 shacks were destroyed in the latest fire in the informal settlement, near Witfield.
“We received the call at 6.30pm and water tankers, major pumps, medium pumps and several 4×4 grass units from four different nearby fire stations were dispatched to the scene,” he said.
“Upon arrival at the scene, dozens of shacks were found to be alight and the deployed emergency crews managed to contain the fire before it could destroy the rest of the shacks in the informal settlement.”
The teams remained at the scene until 8.15pm.
Residents reportedly tried in vain to extinguish the flames with buckets of water. The area is apparently not equipped with fire hydrants, despite the fact that it is one of the fire hotspots in the city.
No injuries were reported, but scores of families were left homeless and could not save anything. All their belongings were destroyed.
The affected families have been provided with food and blankets.
Disaster management services were, on Monday, still organising accommodation for the displaced families, some of which included school-going children.
Police have registered a case of arson and the investigation continues. @FanieFLK
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