Load shedding warning: Generator almost brings down the house
Close call as generator catches fire.
THE dangers of load shedding were forcefully and fearfully brought home for an Arboretum family whose brand new generator caught fire on Thursday night.
Thanks to the generator, Blackie Swart had been enjoying watching TV in the lounge while most of the suburb sat in darkness waiting for the power to be restored.
The expensive petrol-driven generator had been switched on more than an hour before and appeared to be working perfectly.
However, Blackie noticed flickers of light through the glass of the door, which soon became more frequent and more intense.
By the time he got outside, the entire generator was firmly on fire, the flames reaching roof height and beginning to burn the walls of the house.
It was a case of all hands to the pump as the family raced to extinguish the blaze before the petrol tank exploded.
‘We were totally traumatised by this,’ said Blackie’s daughter, Minnette.
‘What if the car had been parked next to the generator, or if we were not at home?
‘We would have lost everything, including our pets. We could even had burned to death if the fire was not noticed early.
‘And this was not a cheap generator. It is a reputable make and my father paid a lot of money for it.
‘We are certainly going to take the matter up with the dealer who sold it.’
