A fire broke out during the afternoon of October 26 in Florin Road at the family home of the Van Rensburgs.
According to Community Group Firefighters (CGFA) spokesperson Jono Martin, they arrived on the scene just before 3pm and contained the fire within 15 minutes of arriving.
“Upon our arrival, we received crucial information that the fire was suspected to have ignited in a bedroom due to batteries left on charge. Shockingly, the closest operational fire hydrant was over 200 metres away from the engulfed home,” recounted Martin, “this revelation was particularly alarming as hydrants were believed to be on Krugerrand Road, which seems to have vanished after being buried over time.”
The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage and will form the basis of an investigation by the City of Johannesburg’s Fire Investigations Unit.
“At the time of our arrival, a significant part of the house was already consumed by flames. The room where the fire predominantly raged produced numerous popping sounds, adding to the intensity of the situation. Moreover, the ferocity of the blaze extended to a nearby tree. However, thanks to CGFA and the City of Joburg Emergency Management Services’ (CoJEMS) swift actions, the fire was contained, preventing further damage beyond the property,” stated Martin.
He was also relieved to report that no injuries were sustained at the scene, ‘a testament to the diligent and rapid response of the CGFA team’.
The consequences for the household are severe, with a substantial portion of the structure collapsing, particularly around the bedroom areas.
Martin made a call for aid to the community to help the family recover after this immense loss.
“The affected family has suffered significant losses in terms of personal belongings. CGFA, in collaboration with CoJEMS, made efforts to salvage whatever we could. BCI Security has stepped in to support by establishing a collection point at their offices, facilitating contributions to assist the family during this challenging period,” elaborated Martin.
The family’s immediate needs, including clothing and toiletries, are as follows:
Mom
• Currently expecting twin boys
• Clothing size 14
• Shoe size 7
Dad
• XXL shirts
• Size 38 pants
• Size 11 shoe
Daughter
• Aged 3
• Clothing is age-related
They also have a BackaBuddy account community members can contribute towards.
“CGFA earnestly calls upon our community to locate and mark the nearest fire hydrants in their respective streets. If possible, consider painting the curbside block yellow with the label ‘FH’ to facilitate swift identification by emergency services,” pled Martin.
He continued that, ideally, hydrants should be situated roughly 200 metres apart. Two types of hydrants exist, marked by a yellow and/ or red pole protruding from the pavement, or an underground hydrant concealed by a yellow plastic lid.
Moreover, if you come across a leaking, damaged, or buried hydrant, don’t hesitate to report it immediately to the City of Johannesburg. You can do so by contacting the Joburg call center at 0860 562 874, reaching out to your local ward counselor, or logging a report through https://www.lognow.co.za/water-leak/.
“We acknowledge that these efforts are voluntary, but your small actions can have a significant impact, ensuring we can serve the community more effectively and expediently when seconds count,” concluded Martin.
