A day that was intended to be a fun-filled one for Parktown North resident Blanche Frolich-van Zyl and her grandchildren turned into a day of panic and the emergence of a young hero.
A power surge took place at the house due to a faulty substation in the area and the roof in the television room caught alight.
At the time of the fire, Van Zyl said she was bathing four of her grandchildren, while her granddaughter Alexia Thome was in the television room. “All I heard was a huge bang and then there was complete darkness. I didn’t know there was a fire in the room at the time. My six-year-old granddaughter came to the bathroom and said, ‘Be calm, there is a fire, don’t worry everything is going to be fine,” said Van Zyl.
She said she could not believe that a six-year-old could be so calm in such a situation while she was panicking and trying to get a hold of authorities. Thome huddled the four little boys and kept them calm as well as her nana calm.
“I remember calling the fire department and having no luck there, they arrived about two hours later. The real heroes here are the guys from Cortac and my Alexia. The guys from Cortac were here within three minutes and got fire extinguishers and ladders and got the fire under control so fast.”
Members from Cortac all have fire extinguishers in their cars and made use of them to put out the fire. Van Zyl added that she is very concerned about the response of the department and their equipment.
“When they eventually arrived, they arrived with no torches and ladders. It was a truck all the way from Alex and not from Rosebank or Randburg which is nearer. Cortac members risked their lives and got the job done so well – this compliment is to them. I have gas running in my house and was so scared it could all explode.”
Mooketse Machedi, Forget Ndlovu, Mochal Makama, Sithembiso Ndlovu and Freddy Ntsayagae are the officers that saved Van Zyl’s residence.
“When a client calls us we always call for back-up and all the members in the area will come and help especially in a situation where there is a fire. We got ladders and went into the roof to check that the fire was out completely,” said Forget.
Van Zyl said she really wants to commend her granddaughter and Cortac for all being so selfless throughout the ordeal.
“Some of the members came back later that night to check if I was okay and also the next morning to check if I was okay and if I needed anything. I am so so grateful to these men, they are just such heroes.”
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