Help needed for family after home destroyed in blaze
RIEPEN PARK – A family lost all of their belongings after their home was razed to the ground in Riepen Park after the thatch roof caught alight.
A family of five lost their home to a fire on 23 May at about 8.25pm on Braemar Road in Riepen Park.
According to Leigh King, a member of the Craighall Residents Association, the house belongs to a retired couple, one of whom is a quadriplegic and needs oxygen. “Unfortunately, the [oxygen] tanks exploded in the fire, but thank goodness all members of the family are safe,” said King.
Nana Radebe, spokesperson for Johannesburg Emergency Services said the cause of the blaze was unknown after preliminary investigations. “I can confirm that the thatch roof of the house caught fire at around 8.25pm when Johannesburg Emergency Services’ first call was logged about the scene of the fire.”
She added that it took about two hours for firefighters to put out the fire.
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Ward 102 councillor David Potter said fire trucks came from Sandton, Rosebank, Randburg, Hunters Hill and Florida to attend to the fire. He added that a resident informed him that one of the fire trucks arrived without water and that firefighters initially struggled to connect to the fire hydrants on the road. “It took over an hour from 8.30pm to get water from over the neighbour’s perimeter wall onto the fire,” said Potter.
“A fourth fire truck arrived, [and firemen] threw a hose over the front wall to douse the fire.”
King urged the community to rally together in an effort to help the family out. “It is a devasting moment to think of someone losing their house and belongings in a fire, we at the association feel it is the neighbourly thing to try and help the family.
Watch: One of the fire trucks that responded to the fire:
Emergency services respond to the scene of the fire. pic.twitter.com/cKPvu7kbOz
— Ashley Lechman (@ironfistAsh) May 23, 2016
“If you would like to donate clothing or shoes, here are the details of those affected by the fire – mother, shoe size 8, clothing 38; father, no sizes currently available; son, T-shirt size large, shirts, jerseys XL, trousers 34 or XL, shoes 12; son, shoe size 9, trousers 32, tops 38 – 40; niece, dress 36, shoe size 5,” said King.
The association has two drop-off zones for donations of clothing or vouchers. They are Hands on Retreat in Craighall Park between 8am and 6pm; and 33 Abercorn Avenue in Craighall Park. Residents can also make monetary donations to the association.
Details: Craighall Park Residents Association, wendy@cra.org.za
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