Breaking News – Couple left devastated after early morning fire destroys home

A Lambton couple have been left devastated after their home in Eighth Avenue was burnt to the ground this morning (Sunday).

It has been reported that the fire started at around 7.15am.

The home’s owner Johan du Plooy told a journalist from the GCN that he believes that it was an electrical fire, caused by something in his wife, Julie’s, home office.

“The fire tripped the lights,” he explained.

“My wife thought it was load shedding, but I thought it was a very odd time for load shedding.

“After returning to bed after going to the bathroom something just didn’t feel right so I went to look around the house.”

This gut feeling may have saved the couple’s lives, as it was then that Johan discovered the blaze.

“I grabbed a fire extinguisher and tried my best to stop the fire, but, it was too much for me,” said Johan.

Julie called the Lambton Klip Sector Four CPF for assistance.

Pine Pienaar, the vice-chairman of the Lambton Klip Sector Four CPF, explained to the GCN what happened when CPF members and Amour Tactical team members arrived at the home.

“We immediately contacted the fire department and assisted the couple to get their pets safely out of the house,” Pienaar said.

He claims that emergency services took over 15 minutes to answer their telephone, and when a team arrived on scene the fire engine’s pump had no pressure.

Firefighters were reportedly plagued by further setbacks when the nearby fire hydrant they attempted to get water from fell apart, according to Pienaar.

The GCN has contacted the Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services for comment on the claims made by the CPF.

“We managed to save the main bedroom, but the rest of the house has been destroyed,” said Johan.

For now all that is left is for Johan and Julie to try and come to terms with what has happened.