Govan Mbeki Municipality’s fire department wants to stop shack fires

EMBALENHLE – Govan Mbeki Municipality’s fire and disaster management department recently held an awareness campaign in Ext 26, eMbalenhle.

This came after many lives were lost in shack fires in the area.

The department’s theme for the campaign this year is: “Let us work together to save lives, keep safe and don’t be a statistic this winter, prevent fires”.

Recently, two children died in a shack fire in Ext 22, eMbalenhle,

Lerato Mkhwanazi (9) and her baby brother, Siphosethu (10 months) died when the tiny shack they share with their parents burned down on Friday night, April 23.

The fire department gave the community safety tips to follow during winter when more fires occur.

The community were told to prevent veld fires by not discarding cigarette buds, to keep matches and lighters away from children and not to leave candles, cooking stoves and heaters unattended.

Fire station officer for eMbalenhle, Mr Dan Dludlu, said they are concerned that there are shack fires in the informal settlements at eMbalenhle every winter.

He said the community sometimes throw stones at the firefighters or forced them to return to the station while the fire is still burning.

Mr Dludlu said community members sometimes give wrong addresses when reporting a fire. This delays the firefighters and they do not arrive at a scene in time.

“The community must stop to connect electricity illegally and avoid overloading plugs. All of us should switch off all electrical appliances during load shedding, and do fire breaks our yard and keep it weed-free because this minimises the fire chances of a fire.

“All smokers, smoking in bed is dangerous because when you discard cigarette buds, you can unknowingly start a fire and put your life and that of your family in danger.”

In the event that a fire does break out in your home, Mr Dludlu advised you to crawl low under the smoke to get out of the house. They should also have more than one door in their house through which they can escape.

He also told residents that if their clothes catch fire, they must drop and roll. They should not run.

Residents were given 75 fire extinguishers that were donated by Isibonelo Colliery with a promised to refill or replace them when the need arise.

Mr Thami Gcuda, from Isibonelo Colliery, said they gave 15 extinguishers to the Govan Mbeki Municipality’s fire department to be distributed among towns and be installed at strategic points at is easily accessible in case a fire breaks out.

Residents were told to call the following numbers 112 or 017 620 6290 in case of a fire outbreak.