Two house fires in Glenvista

GLENVISTA –  It’s a possibility the first fire was caused by a massive power surge at a townhouse complex, in Laubscher Street, La Paradise. The fire began in a bedroom, at the plug socket.

According to Sarah Wissler, a Glenvista resident, member of Glenvista Five Resident’s Association and CAT (Community Awareness Training) organiser, she told the CHRONICLE, “The mother was off work sick and was changing her baby when she saw the plug socket spark and begin to smoke. She rushed out with her baby and called for help. Two residents in the same complex came to her assistance and they managed to put out the fire with a ‘fire blanket’ which had been received from one of our recent CAT training classes.

“The unit next door lost a TV and microwave through the power surge, which was measured at 393 volts. A call was put through to City Power by a resident, reference number – CPWEB357457.”

D&D Tactical also came to assist at the townhouse complex .

The mother and baby were taken to hospital after suffering smoke inhalation but were discharged later the same day.

Second fire 

Later the same day another fire broke out at a home in Panorama Place, near Vista Drive and Edward Place, Glenvista ext 6.

According to Manny Ribeiro, a resident from Oakdene, “I was coming back from Kibler Park and as I approached the Rand Water buildings I saw smoke coming from a house over in the hills of Glenvista. I followed the smoke until I got to the house in Panorama Place.

“The owner wasn’t at home and the domestic was carrying items outside from one of the bedrooms. The house was full of smoke and as other residents began to arrive we got two hosepipes and began dousing the flames. The fire seemed to have started in the main bedroom.

“Apparently one of the neighbours had called for the fire brigade, they arrived after about 20 minutes. The owner arrived not long after.”

A spokesperson from Glenvista Community Policing Forum said, “This afternoon yet another substation in our area was vandalised for copper, resulting in fluctuating current in and around Vista Drive, Glenvista. As far as we can see as a result of this a house on Panorama Place caught alight due to electrical fire. Luckily nobody was hurt.
“We have written extensively on our FB page about City Power’s lack of interest in tackling theft out of their substations. Their lack of interest has come full circle as today we have a mother and child hospitalised for smoke inhalation and another family’s home destroyed. It’s a matter of time before we lose a life to this situation.
“Today, I invite City Power management to publicly inform us what their strategy is to address this situation. When our houses are burning and our residents are in hospital we believe urgent intervention is demanded.”