Fire claims Wilro Park home
It was around 12:00 when owner Colin Williams noticed some smoke coming from the opposite end of his C-shaped home.
Even as the leaves on the tree were still damp from the rain earlier that morning, steam and smoke rose into the frigid air from piles of smouldering debris.
On Thursday, September 30 the Williams’ witnessed what any family dreads – black smoke billowing from the roof, windows and doors as their house was engulfed in flames.
It was around 12:00 when owner Colin Williams noticed some smoke coming from the opposite end of his C-shaped home on Steenbras Road, Wilro Park.
“When I saw the smoke I immediately got my children out of the house. My gardener, Athanasius Obsta Nyangulu and I tried to put the fire out with a garden hose, but by that time it was already too late,” he explained.
Members from various neighbourhood watches were some of the first on the scene, but it took emergency services about 20 to 30 minutes to arrive. The road was soon filled with CoJ Emergency Management Services, Fire Ops SA, Help24, other security services and community members who were ready to assist.
It took the firefighters approximately one hour to get the flames under control and put out the fire. Unfortunately it seemed there wasn’t much to salvage after the raging fire had ripped through the house.
Despite speculations that the fire might have started when waterproofing was torched onto the roof, the exact cause hasn’t yet been confirmed.
“The person doing the waterproofing is trusted and experienced. He already had moved on to the other side of the roof when the opposite end caught fire. When he saw the fire, he immediately tried to put it out as well,” Colin said.
Five people live in the house – a family of four (including a three-year-old girl and a five-year-old boy) and a family friend.
Even though the family has lost virtually all their belongings, they are thankful that no one was injured in the horrible incident.
“The community outreach has just been unreal. If there’s anything my family and I can take away from this, it’s that we live in a community where the neighbours care about each other. We have just received so many blessings from God and this community, and we are so thankful for the support,” Colin said.
“Most of our children’s belongings have been replaced almost three-fold. With this we would like to extend our deepest thanks to every single person who helped us in any way during this time.”
The Williams family would like to thank Cleanroom Laundry Professionals, Pick n Pay Wilro Park, the anonymous donor who bought new bedding for the children, New Harvest Christian Fellowship, Karin van der Merwe who looked after the children, Pecanwood College, Emergency Service Chaplains, Babbelbekkie Akademie and of course everyone who was assisting them on the day as well as family and friends.
