Akunamlilo saves Joe Slovo shacks

Fire extinguishers installed by Akunamlilo Fire Fighters saved Joe Slovo informal settlement from a fire outbreak.

A fire was started by a pot of water left to boil on a paraffin stove on 6 November. The fire was put out by neighbours who used fire extinguishers installed by Akumanlilo Fire Fighters before it could burn down the entire shack and spread to neighbours.

Milton Mzobe, founder of Akunamlilo Fire Fighters, visited the site of the shack with Mogale City ward 33 councilor Osbourne Ramadi, where they met with the owner of the shack, Andries Komani.

Komai had left the stove on and left the shack to charge his phone. Neighbour, John Tsogetsi said he saw smoke rising from the shack and immediately run to put out the fire with his fire extinguisher. Other neighbours joined in and three empty extinguishers later the neighbours had stopped the fire. The only damage done was to the interior, where Komani’s matteress, couch and belongings were destroyed.

Mzobe gave the neighbours new fire extinguishers on 9 November. “This is why it is so crucial for Akunamlilo to be able to start going into settlements and teach fire safety so we can avoid these potential disastrous incidents,” Mzobe said.

Ramadi added that the initiative to have fire extinguishers is a good one and has greatly helped in controlling shack fires, however, only some shacks in parts of Joe Slovo have been given fire extinguishers and more need to be installed to ensure that a fire does not ravage the settlement. According to Ramadi, the fire could have affected many neighbouring shacks if there had been no fire extinguishers to put it out so quickly.

Details: Akunamlilo Fire Fighters, milton@akunamlilo.co.za or 079 269 6144.