A fire allegedly started by kids playing with matches has destroyed three Wendy houses and two brick homes in Belhar on Wednesday afternoon.
The fire started in a Wendy house in Roodezandt Street.
The community immediately sprang into action, but the blaze was only doused when 21 firefighters arrived.
The fire was put out almost two hours later.
One man, trying to save some of his belongings, was treated for smoke inhalation on the scene and then taken to hospital.
No other injuries or fatalities were reported.
Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Theo Layne, says firefighters from the Belhar and Kuils River departments responded to the emergency.
“Three fire engines, two water tankers and one rescue vehicle from Belhar and Kuils River fire stations responded to a fire in Roodezandt Street, Ext. 11 in Belhar at 4.40pm. A total of 21 firefighters were on the scene and the fire, which destroyed three informal structures and two formal structures, was extinguished by 6.12pm," he says.
“One adult male suffered smoke inhalation, was treated by Fire and Rescue Services and transported by Metro EMS to hospital. We suspect the fire was caused by children playing with matches."