WEEKEND OF FLAMES - Shack fires leave two dead and 100s homeless

CAPE Town was hit by multiple shack fires over the weekend, leaving families homeless, two people dead, firefighters battling flames and unruly crowds across the metro.

Fire and rescue spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said that crews responded to a number of fires over the weekend mostly between late Saturday afternoon and early hours of Sunday.

The crews attended to fires in Fisantekraal, Gugulethu, Nomzamo and Du Noon - two fatalies were reported at the latter two.

In Dunoon, members were alerted at approximately 1.40am of structures alight in the Newlands informal settlement where 25 structures were destroyed and 45 people were displaced.

Carelse says: “The body of a female minor was found with fatal burn wounds. No other injuries were reported, and the South African Police Service will investigate the cause of the incident.

Subsequently, at 2.30am an emergency was received of structures alight in Stasie Weg, Fisantekraal, where 10 structures were destroyed, leaving 40 persons displaced.

On Saturday, at 17:30 a fire was reported in Barcelona informal settlement, Gugulethu. Crews from Epping, Lansdowne, Belhar and Wynberg were on the scene. Over 50 people were displaced. No injuries were reported and the cause is unknown.

Meanwhile, in Nombula Street in Nomzamo members received a call at 10.45pm on Saturday after informal structures were set alight. Over 200 people were left without shelter and residents cut the fires hoses. 

Carelse said: “It is incredibly disappointing that firefighters were once again subjected to an unruly crowd – some of whom set about cutting some of the fire hoses.”

Two firefighters were injured in the course of fighting the fire, one was taken to a nearby medical facility. No other injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is unknown.

Gift of the Givers Project Manager Ali Sablay said that they responded to several fires across the province including in Klapmuts, Gugulethu and Strand to provide humanitarian relief.

Sablay explains: “It has been an exceptionally busy [few hours] for Gift of the Givers as teams were called to assist with several fire incidents across the Western Cape.

“The first call came late Saturday afternoon from frantic community leaders in Klapmuts, where one fatality was sadly reported. Shortly afterward, teams were dispatched to Gugulethu, where a fire left approximately 80 people homeless.

“Late Sunday evening, as strong winds intensified, a major fire swept through Nomzamo in Strand , destroying more than 100 structures and leaving hundreds homeless. One fatality has been confirmed, and three individuals have been hospitalised.”

The organisation activated a full humanitarian response, with additional resources deployed to Nomazmo at the request of the community.

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said that Klapmuts police registered an inquest for investigation following a shack fire at about 15:15 at LA Rochelle squatter camp, Groenfontein road, Klapmuts.

Van Wyk reports: “The body of an unidentified person was found amongst the debris after the Fire Department extinguished the fire. The body found was burned unrecognizable. Ten shacks burned down. Currently it's unknown how the fire started.”

Meanwhile in Ethembeni informal settlement members from Lwandle police station received a complaint of shacks on fire around about 08:00 on Sunday morning.

Van Wyk adds: “On their arrival, they arranged for the fire department to extinguish the fire.  There were a number of shacks that burned. No injuries were reported at the time. 

“Currently it is unknown how the fire started. Three persons were admitted to a nearby medical facility for the treatment of burn wounds. An Inquest docket was opened for investigation.”