Toddler tragically burns to death in Klippoortjie AH house fire

“The charred body of a three-year-old boy was found and recovered under the burnt rubble of a house in Klippoortjie AH by Ekurhuleni firefighters immediately after the raging flames were extinguished on Wednesday morning.”

These are the words of William Ntladi, district manager media liaison for Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS).

Firefighters from Germiston, Boksburg and Wadeville fire stations responded swiftly to the scene on Nomad Place, with a fleet of five fire engines.

Upon arrival they found an eight-roomed house on fire.

“The call was received at exactly 10.15am and the first arriving fire engine from Germiston Central Fire Station was on scene within seven minutes,” said Ntladi.

“It was augmented while in active operation.

“Upon arrival, a section of the roof had collapsed and flames were already protruding through the roof from two of the four bedrooms and spreading to the entire house.”

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Ntladi added that offensive fire suppression was conducted and the flames contained and extinguished with minimal damage to the rest of the house.

“Two bedrooms had intense fire damage and two other rooms, including the lounge, suffered from water and smoke damage, while the rest of the rooms were saved,” said Ntladi.

Ntladi said that once the blaze was extinguished, firefighters conducted a search and rescue and found the body of the toddler under the rubble in one of the two burnt bedrooms, where the fire is alleged to have started.

“As per information gathered on scene, the child was alone in the room and the cause of the fire is still a subject of investigation,” said Ntladi.

“One female adult patient was treated on scene for partial thickness burn wounds on her face and arms.

“She was then transported by an ambulance to Bertha Gxowa Hospital for further medical care.”

The scene was handed over to the Germiston SAPS for investigation and to arrange for the transport of the body to an appropriate facility in Germiston.

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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist) kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za

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