Close to 300 fires in just 3 months

Municipal Spokesperson Thipa Selala says the numbers are higher due to a good rain season which resulted in more dried vegetation likely to catch fire during winter.

Selala says residents need to refrain from making open fires at all costs.

“Residents must ensure that electrical appliances are switched off before leaving their home. They also need to ensure that their electrical connections are safe at all times and immediately repair all damages. They must ensure that children do not play with matches and lighters. They are also required to inspect their vehicles for electrical faults.”

He has advised business owners to ensure that their properties or businesses meet the required fire and safety standards at all times.

This, after two residential fires were reported over two days this week. The first was on 29 June and less than 24 hours later, another fire broke out.

The first fire, which broke out at a house in Dahl Street is said to have started from a backroom where children were left unattended.

The owner of the house, who opted to remain anonymous says no one was hurt but the four families who stayed there would be displaced.

“We will try and arrange a place for them to stay but they have really lost everything except the clothes on their backs. We are not sure what started the fire but it looks like the children forgot to switch something off.”

He says the premises was used to rent out for residential purposes while others used it as workshops to repair cars.

The fire and rescue team was able to put out the fire before the house or neighbouring properties were damaged. However, there was a car that was also damaged in the process.

Little information is known about the second fire which broke out from an abandoned house along Plein Street.

When Polokwane Observer got to the scene, the Polokwane fire department had just extinguished the flames and confirmed that no one was harmed.

The cause of the fire had not yet been determined.