Public Safety Dept addresses fire safety at home
In light of the #Knysnafire and the recent death of a baby boy after a home fire, the Herald chatted with the Regional Commander for Public Safety.
In this week’s #ThrowbackThursday, we look back at the incident in which a family lost everything, including their baby boy, as the result of a house fire.
On Saturday, 22 April, tragedy struck a family from Zenzele, when their 17-month-old baby boy succumbed to the burns he sustained in a fire at their home the previous week. The cause of the fire is not clear, but during winter time, fires are a big problem in and around Randfontein.
The Herald met up with Benny Mohlabeng, Regional Commander for Public Safety, to hear what he had to say to the community about staying safe this winter.
Small things can cause major damage,” Benny said.
He gave the community a number of examples:
• Electrical appliances such as heaters, that are left unattended
• Illegal electrical wires
• Children playing with matches and lighters
• Cigarette butts
• Candles
• Cooking equipment
• Faulty wiring
• Gas equipment
Mothlabeng told the Herald that shack fires are a real concern as illegal electrical connections are sometimes used. He also said that a shack can burn down completely in just eight minutes. Grass fires are also a major concern for the Fire Department as they can also cause mayor damage.
Grass fires are usually caused by the following:
• Glass bottles that are thrown out of cars while driving
• Cigarettes tossed out of windows
• Open fires
• Unattended campfires
• Equipment failure or engine sparks
Benny’s biggest concern is the open fires that cause unnecessary damage on a large scale.
Human beings and animals sometimes die because people are reckless,” he said.
He also added that resources need to be used to control the fires, and that costs the government a large sum of money.
On 7 June, a series of evacuations had to be carried out, as firefighters struggled to contain 26 fires in and around Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Many people and animals were killed, and some residents lost everything they had.
The George and Mossel Bay SPCAs took in over 60 animals from the Knysna Animal Welfare Society, in order to make space available for other animals to be admitted from surrounding communities affected by the disaster.
The Fire Department urges the community to be vigilant and also to educate their children from a very young age about safety.
Remember to phone your local Fire Department on 011 951 3000.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (please remember to include your contact details in the email) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
