Fire destroys 120 shacks in Marathon informal settlement
Families left homeless after blaze destroys their homes.
A total of 120 shacks were destroyed by a blaze in the Marathon informal settlement last Monday.
Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) were alerted to the fire when a member of the public reported it at the Primrose Fire Station at 3.43am.
“Firefighters from the local fire station swiftly responded to the scene with three fire engines and upon arrival, flames were ravaging many of the shacks,” said William Ntladi, district manager media liaison for DEMS.
“Backup was immediately summoned from the Kempton Park, Germiston Central, Tembisa, Wadeville and Boksburg fire stations after a risk assessment was conducted for the potential fire spread.”
ALSO READ:
Community denies involvement in school fire
A fleet of four water tankers, two rescue pumpers and two major industrial pumpers augmented by 31 firefighters tackled the blaze meticulously without any further destruction to other neighbouring shacks.
The fire was contained and extinguished at about 6.30am.
No casualties due to the fire were recorded.
Disaster management and human settlement officials were also called to the scene to assist the affected community members with relevant disaster relief aids.
The cause of the blaze is undetermined and still the subject of an investigation.
