Residents left with nothing after fire destroys Driehoek home
Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) responds to house fire in the early hours of the morning.
Flames licked the air as the old house in Driehoek Road, Driehoek, burnt in the early hours of last Tuesday morning.
The fire took over after panicked residents ran to get water from the taps, only to discover that the water was not working.
“Only later when the house was fully aflame did we discover that the water had been turned off at the mains,” said David Moaga, a long-time resident at the house.
“By that time it was too late and we are now left with no place to stay.”
Twenty-three people living in the house were affected by the fire but there are approximately 45 people living on the property overall, as some stay in outside rooms.
William Ntladi, district manager media liaison for Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), told the GCN that firefighters responded to the fire at about 1.58am.
“Firefighters from Germiston Central Fire Station swiftly responded to the address as given and upon arrival, flames were already protruding through the roof section of the house, which is made out of corrugated zinc,” said Ntladi.
“Prior to their arrival, backup was already summoned for extra water tankers to assist with water supply.
“Fortunately only one casualty was accounted for as a result of smoke inhalation.
“The patient was road transported by an ambulance to Bertha Gxowa for further medical care.”
The house, consisting of 15 rooms, totally burnt and the occupants are now displaced.
Disaster Management was also on scene to assist with disaster relief aids, including blankets.
“The actual cause of the fire is still under investigation though on-scene information states that there was an explosion in one of the centre rooms used to store goods,” said Ntladi.
Thandokazi Mphephuka, who has been living in the house since 2004, told the GCN that the experience was extremely frightening.
“We tried to put the fire out but there was no water to fill the buckets,” she said.
“My sister Anelda Letsoisa was not well as she had breathed in a lot of smoke and was taken to hospital.”
Another resident, Phindile Mokwena, said she had moved into the house last year.
She told the GCN how the fire was so bad they couldn’t get out of their door and how someone had to break the window so she and her friend could climb out to safety.
“Luckily I only got a few scratches but most of my belongings are gone,” she said.
Most of the residents lost the bulk of their belongings and were left with nowhere to stay.
Ward 36 councillor Wendy Morgan was on scene and said she was trying to locate the owner of the property to see what could be done for the residents.
In the case of an emergency call:
- National toll free number: 10177
- Cellphone: 112
- Life threatening Ekurhuleni emergency line: 011 458-0911
Other articles you may be interested in:
Little boy (3) dies in tragic house fire
