Brave community members tackle fire
The community recently pulled together to help put out a fire in a Sunnyridge flat.
By: Raine Carosin
Smoke filled the air and turned the sunny afternoon dark recently as a unit on the second floor of a block of flats caught fire.
The building is situated just off Howe Circle in Kernick Road, Sunnyridge.
Luckily the fire was noticed by a number of people in the area, one of whom was Ashley Records from Records Industrial Hardware.
Two other passersby, Antony Buissinne and Ashley Allen, also stopped to assist.
Records immediately called Ekurhuleni Disaster Management and Emergency Services (DEMS), and then, along with Lucky Tseko and some car guards from the area, grabbed some equipment and a fire extinguisher before racing to the scene.
Meanwhile, Allen had climbed up to the smoking flat and had started to break the windows.
Buissinne climbed up to the flat as well and handed the fire extinguisher over to Allen, who was now on the balcony.
It was a daring feat, and the crowd that had gathered below watched with bated breath.
Back at the entrance to the flat, Records and his assistants managed to open the flat’s door using a crowbar and an elderly gentleman started to hose the flat.
They all took turns with the hosepipe in order to avoid inhaling too much of the poisonous smoke.
Meanwhile, Allen, standing on the balcony was using the fire extinguisher through the broken windows to smother the fire.
DEMS arrived on the scene within five to 10 minutes and took charge of the situation.
During the process Buissinne hurt his arm, but no other injuries were recorded on the scene.
The quick thinking of community members and their willingness to help went a long way in ensuring that the fire was brought under control quickly and further damage was averted.
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