Parkrand family loses everything in fire
The family's African grey parrot died in the fire.
A Parkrand family is devastated after a house fire in the early hours of September 17 left them displaced.
Zara Gemmell, who lives on the property, said she fire broke out at their house on Van Der Post Avenue at about 03:00.
“I just heard a banging sound. I couldn’t find out where it was coming from, so I called our security company. Once I realised there was a fire I just woke everyone up and we immediately left the property,” said Gemmell, who lives in the house with her mother, husband and two boys, aged 11 and 14.
Her mother-in-law, Lindy Uppink, also lives in the cottage on the property.
The woman’s husband, Bruce, was not at home at the time of the incident.
Everybody managed to escape unharmed, however, the family’s African grey parrot, Billy, died in the fire.
Zara believes the fire started in the garage, and the cause of the blaze is still unknown.
The woman said the family lost most of their belongings, from furniture to the kids’ clothing.
“We are now trying to find a place to stay and will have to start from scratch. The entire ceiling of the house collapsed,” she said.
The Boksburg Advertiser is still awaiting comment from the City of Ekurhuleni’s DEMS.
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