Little boy (3) dies in tragic house fire
An Elsburg family suffered the terrible loss of a child’s life, on Friday.
Tragedy struck an Elsburg family, when their three-year-old son perished in a fire at their home on Friday.
The fire in van der Merwe Street, Elsburg, gutted the entire house.
The boy’s mother and two-year-old sister, who were also in the house at the time, survived the blaze.
Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) received a call at 9.16am about a house being well alight.
Fire crews from the Germiston Central Fire Station immediately responded, calling for back-up prior to arrival.
More teams from the Wadeville and Boksburg Central fire stations responded.
“Four fire engines were on-scene and on arrival, the house was well alight,” said William Ntladi, the district media liaison manager for DEMS.
“As per information on the scene, the fire started in one of the bedrooms.
“Due to the fire, the three-year-old boy could not be found and a search was immediately conducted by firefighters in the area he was last seen.”
Ntladi went on to say that the body of the child was recovered by firefighters after the flames had been knocked down.
“He was found at 10.05am in the bedroom where the fire is suspected to have started,” Ntladi said.
The mother was treated on scene for smoke inhalation, as was the father who upon arrival at the scene, assisted with the search for his son. They were transported to Bertha Gxowa Hospital in serious but stable conditions.
The little girl suffered minor injuries and was also taken to hospital for treatment.
Ntladi added that the scene had been handed over to the Elsburg SAPS for further investigation.
“At this point we don’t know the actual cause of the fire but our fire investigating officer was on-scene and has started with investigations.”
DEMS chaplains were also called to the scene to give counselling to both the family and the firefighters who recovered the body.
EMPD, Elsburg SAPS, Netcare 911, ER24, National Paramedics Services and CPF members were also all on-scene.
Pastor Nicky van der Westhuizen, from the NBCFC Church in Freeway Park, said they would assist the family with food, blankets and clothes and the community could drop off donations for the family at the church.
For more information about making a donation contact van der Westhuizen on 078 741 4767.
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