A FIRE at Mseleni Child and Youth Care Centre in Umhlabuyalingana (near Pongola) in the early hours of this morning claimed the lives of one staff member and one resident child.
About 50 children of varying ages are accommodated at the children’s home which comprises a number of houses in which the children live.
The fire broke out in the bedroom of one of the houses. Once the premises was vacated, staff members did a head count to ensure all children were accounted for.
According to Dr Fredlund, Acting CEO of Mseleni Hospital and whose wife, Rachel Fredlund, is Principal of the children’s home, one staff member realised a three-year-old child was not accounted for.
The staff member returned to the burning house in search of the child.
Neither the staff member nor the child survived the blaze.
All emergency services were on scene but it was a long time before the fire was extinguished.
‘We are very grateful to the community members for their wonderful support during this tragic time,’ said Fredlund.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but police officers are unable to comment at this time.
@TamlynJolly
* READ MORE on this story in the ZO Monday edition.
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