Your house and your belongings are the only things you have to protect you from the storms of life. But when you leave your home and return to smoke and flames, your life can change in the blink of an eye.
For the Dlamini-family, Saturday 1 August will always be a day imprinted in their hearts and on their minds as destruction.
For 16 years, these cracked walls and heaps of ash was a house to a family of five. Around 16:40, Mr Emmanuel Dlamini and his wife, Joyce went to town while the children stayed home in Fife Street, extension 41. According to the children, twin boys (7) and an elder brother (16), they were watching television when the fire started. They immediately called the neighbour who then called Mr and Mrs Dlamini, informing them about the fire.
“I can’t describe what I felt when I got that call. It is a terrible call to get,” were the words of Mr Dlamini. They immediately rushed home from town after they received the shocking news. “The only thing you think about is your children. You just pray that they were not injured,” Mr Dlamini said.
To his relief when he got home, he saw that his kids were safely at their neighbours, awaiting their parents. There is still no definite cause of what started the fire. But they suspect that the fire started in the lounge area. Further investigation will confirm the cause and where it started.
“I would lie to you if I told you how long the investigation will continue,” Mr Dlamini stated. “We’ve received enormous amounts of groceries as well as blankets and so much more. To each and every member of the community who contributed, I would just like to thank you all. It means so much to us as a family,” said Mr Dlamini gratefully.
The family is currently living with Mrs Dlamini’s mother until they are back on their feet.
Mr Dlamini stated that they are to meet with the fire brigade who will issue them with a full report regarding the fire, but have not yet met with them at the time of print.
The fire brigade arrived on the scene at approximately 17:10 to put the fire out. The water sprayed out of the pipes on five places, in all directions; so much so that they turned the pipes to spray into the other rooms in an attempt to put out more flames. The pipe connected to the fire truck, sprayed water in all directions so that the water pooled up. The underground fire hydrant valve’s cap was missing as well.
In Tasbet Park, extension 3 around 21:00, another fire destroyed a thatch roof. This destruction on July 31 was a result of a fire not being put out properly. Mr Ntobeng Malekane resides at this address and has tenants living in a small corrugated house on his premises. According to Mr Malekane, the tenants would have only lived there for a while, but it’s been months without them moving. There are no proper facilities in the corrugated house so a fire must be made outside to heat food and to warm water. The house is close to the thatch house and a fire was made in between the two. They then put a wooden plank behind the fire to prevent the wind from spreading the fire. But they never put the fire out and the wind carried the fire up the wall burning the thatch roof. No one was aware of the fire that started and the neighbour woke them up by throwing a stone against Mr Malekane’s bedroom window. They immediately phoned the security company who then phoned the fire brigade.
“The fire brigade only arrived about an hour later, with not enough water. They first had to clean the underground fire hydrant to use the water,” said Mr Malekane.
Heaps of rubbish was removed from the hole, which is still there. “The fire truck arrived with only half a tank of water and pipes leaking everywhere. We had to use buckets of water to help put the fire out, because of a water shortage on the fire brigade’s side. Luckily I have a fire wall so the flames stopped at the thatch.
On Wednesday, July 29 a 22-year-old lady lost her room in Pine Ridge in another devastating fire. The wind carried the flames across the thatch roof into the room.
“The famous song, ‘my heart will go on’, sung by Celine Dion played on the girl’s ballerina box as we entered the room,” a helper said.
“My thatch lapa is 75 square metres and it burnt down completely. We lost about 30 windows and my daughter’s entire room was destroyed,” said Mr Peter Khosa, owner of the house.
He received the call while he was at work at around 12:30. His son (23) and daughter were at home when the fire started. “I would just like to thank the neighbours for assisting my children in getting out of the house safely,” said a grateful Mr Khosa.
He immediately went home and arrived before the fire brigade arrived on scene. “The members of Witbank 911 were of so much help and donated some clothes to my daughter,” he finally said.
“Why do we pay taxes,” a member of the community asked during the fire in Fife Street. “Each and every person standing here, watching this family house burn down, pays taxes. Even the residents of this house do. It is pathetic on behalf of the Emalahleni Local Municipality as well as the fire brigade to take so long to arrive on scene. And just look at their equipment,” he stated angrily.
Around 18:20 on Saturday the fire was not put out completely.
According to Captain David Ratau, police spokesperson, a total of six fires, have been reported since January this year.
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