WATCH: Booysens informal settlement fire destroys over 1, 000 shacks
Booysens informal settlement residents are left distraught after a blazing fire broke out, destroying more than 1, 000 shacks this afternoon, January 22.
The cause of the fire could not be established at this stage, meanwhile, more than 1, 000 families are going to spend the weekend dealing with the loss of their shacks.
According to Ward 124 councilor Mongameli Mnyameni, “Disaster Management has been alerted, but also, they are facing a challenge because they cannot cope with more than 1, 000 families. All these families are left homeless, they have nothing, they actually lost everything.”
Cllr Mongameli is appealing for assistance to help homeless residents. “I’m appealing to Joburg mayor Geoff Makhubo, MC Mokoena to come up with a plan and help these helpless people,” he said.
“There are no casualties that have been reported, but what I can tell you, there is totally nothing that is left. Please MMC come and intervene, It is so hurtful and sad for people to lose everything,” pleads Mongameli.
10 ways to prevent shacks from burning
1 Keep a close eye on paraffin stoves. Don’t cook near a window with a curtain.
2 Make sure the stove does not fall over, which may cause a fire and burn children.
3 Make sure candles cannot fall over. Don’t go to sleep with candles still burning.
4 Watch out for discarded cigarette butts.
5 Be aware of the dangers of illegal and faulty electricity connections, which also cause fires.
6 Keep a bucket handy to fill with water so you can extinguish flames easily.
7 Keep a bucket of sand to put out paraffin fires.
8 Build dwellings a good distance (at least 3m) apart to prevent fires from spreading. Make sure this space is kept open.
9 Teach children about the dangers of fire.
10 Keep roads and access to dwellings clear at all times.
*Tips provided by DispatchLive
