Zandspruit fire destroys shacks
ZANDSPRUIT – Fire ravages shacks in Zandspruit
Madi khombela madi (We are asking for water) the residents of Zandspruit screamed over and over while a fire ravaged shacks in the north west of the informal settlement.
Buckets of water were used to try and battle the raging flames that refused to die out but through sheer determination, the residents kept throwing more water. Some residents took precautionary measures and started moving their furniture, clothes and what they deemed valuable away from the fire. Old and young alike returned empty buckets to fill them up from the few taps that can be found in Zandspruit.
@RoodepoortNorth Zandspruit residents fight fire with buckets and sheer determination…..No help yet pic.twitter.com/oBZr4r0Q4t
— Gaahele M (@Treaka) February 1, 2016
@RoodepoortNorth Shack dwellers desperately try and save their homes against raging fire pic.twitter.com/jesJ55xGdB
— Gaahele M (@Treaka) February 1, 2016
Residents allege that the fire began at 10.40am however emergency services arrived after 1pm bringing with them a fire truck with the much-needed water.
“Here in Zandspruit we live like this, nobody cares about us, we have to look out for ourselves,”said one resident who pointed out that this was not the first fire to happen. She said she was just thankful that the fire did not happen at night.
She added that often these fires were caused by negligence on the part of the residents who may forget to switch off their primus stoves or a cigarette not put out properly.
“The owners of the shack may not even be aware that their homes have burned down as they are probably at work, they are going to be so shocked and sad when they discover that their homes have burned down,” the resident added.
@RoodepoortNorth No sign of fire fighters as fire in Zandspruit engulfs more shacks… pic.twitter.com/d3LcUJLaKe
— Gaahele M (@Treaka) February 1, 2016
Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) spokesperson Nana Radebe said that the EMS received a call at 12.11pm and arrived at the scene of the fire at 12.27pm.
Details: Joburg EMS, 011 758 9540
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