How do you describe in words the loss of a family after a fire? The total exhaustion of a man who had to watch helplessly as everything he and his wife, Madelein, worked for, burned to the ground. An unstoppable wave of flames that consumed everything to nothing.
In the blink of an eye a fire on Friday 28 April, destroyed everything that had been built up over 16 years at the company MT Quads in Parys’ main street.
Shortly before 06:00 Tommy Bucknall, owner of the business, received the call from Stephan Venter of Parys Sekuriteit to say that there was a fire behind the woodworking business right next to his business. A call that will remain in his memory forever. Stephan saw the smoke when he was called to an alarm in Kerkstraat. Tommy rushed to the premises, worried that the fire on the neighboring premises would spread to his premises. When they could not get hold of the owner of the woodworking company, Annelize Janse van Rensburg, he and Stephan, and Tshitso Ketsise from the provincial traffic department who also saw the smoke, immediately tried to gain access to stop the flames. but it was in vain.
The wood and flammable material on the premises caused the flames to spread rapidly to a storage room on Tommy’s premises where, among other things, antique furniture belonging to his parents was stored. When the building collapsed, a gas cylinder caught fire and the fire continued to spread across its premises. His entire workshop and a boat that was in the workshop, his tools and motorcycles on the premises, all his stock and parts – everything was destroyed in the fire. Only Tommy’s dog, who was at the business premises, and a handful of things could be saved.
Helping hands from the community came to the scene – helped where they could. A community that stands together when there is need.
People watched in disbelief as the flames consumed everything. Even two cars that were on the site of MC Conversions & Racing, adjacent to the site of MT Quads, had heat damage.
Just a day before the fire devastion (April 27) the business was open until 12:00, and on Friday morning they would have assembled two engines for customers for the long weekend. Now nothing is left. The damage to parts and stock alone amounts to more than R3 million.
For safety reasons, the premises had to be evacuated after the fire, but Tommy continues with the business. People can call him on 074 725 4346. Thanks to Parys Security in particular Stephan Venter, CSS Security, Security Master, We Care, Tinus with his private fire engine, Ngwathe Fire and Emergency Services, Leeuwkop, Parys SAPD, Mr. Tshitso Ketsise from provincial traffic, Parys Medics, IMR, the Pictor family, and everyone who helped in any way at the scene. It is really appreciated.
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