Residents step up in the face of tragedy
Residents of Strubens Valley have banded together to help a local family after their home was destroyed by fire.
Just over two months after a fire gutted a house in Theophilus Street, Strubens Valley, homeowner and self-employed handyman Fred Mehakovic, is still hard at work rebuilding.
A fire broke out at the house early one Sunday morning in mid-April while Fred and his wife were sitting outside in the garden, and his two grown sons were sleeping in their rooms.
“It was around 8am. We saw smoke coming from the lounge and immediately sprang into action to try and bring the fire under control.”
Fred’s first thought was of a fire extinguisher they kept in the kitchen. He rushed to retrieve it, but unbeknownst to him, it had been moved elsewhere by a domestic worker.
Within a few minutes, the fire had grown out of control. Fred’s youngest son managed to flee from his bedroom and to safety, but his other son (47), who slept in an upstairs bedroom was not as lucky.
He woke up realising the house was on fire and tried to flee down the stairs. He grabbed onto the balustrade as the stairway was full of smoke and he could not see.
Unfortunately, the balustrade gave way and he tumbled into the downstairs area, which was completely engulfed in flame. He managed to escape the fire but sustained third-degree burns on his chest and right arm. He spent two months receiving treatment in hospital but is now back home.
Local security, firefighters, and ambulances were quick to respond to the incident, managing to bring the fire under control and treat the wounded at the scene.
The house had sustained a lot of damage. That which was not burnt, covered in soot. The whole ordeal lasted just over 30 minutes.
The Roodepoort Northsider met Fred at the house on June 26 to discuss the fire, which is suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault.
A tour of the house revealed that, while Fred has made great strides in repairing the house, a lot still needs to be done. The lounge area sports new tiles, doorways, window frames and windows, and ceilings. The fire was so hot that the floor tiles shattered. The smell of smoke is still faintly detectable.
The stairwell and the entire upstairs area, including the bedroom where his son had been sleeping, and the main bedroom suite still bear the scars of the extreme heat generated by the fire. The outlines of the many artworks that lined the walls are still clearly visible.
With a little luck, Fred will begin installing the new roof in a few weeks, after which he can begin the arduous task of refurbishing the upper portion of the house.
“The biggest thing for me is how our neighbours and the local community banded together to support us in this very difficult time,” says Fred. “I don’t think there are enough words to express our gratitude for everything they’ve done for us.”
According to Little Falls and Strubens Valley Community Forum (LIFCO) chairperson Claire Fauchet, it was heartwarming to see residents and local businesses come to the fore offering everything from clothes, food, temporary accommodation, curtains, and even furniture in the aftermath of the fire.
“Fred is a well-known small business owner in our community. He has done work at so many homes and businesses in the area. It warms your heart to see how our community stepped up to help one of their own.”
In addition, LIFCO facilitated a collection for the family, managing, with contributions from community members as well as a contribution from LIFCO, to raise some cash for the family.
Fauchet has applauded Fred’s tenacity. “During this whole ordeal, Fred and his family did not ask for anything, saying that he would rather use his skills to earn money and so repair the damage to the property.”
