Fires wreak havoc during water cuts
THREE adjacent shanties were destroyed by a fire that local residents battled to bring under control during an extended water interruption.
The homeowner in Cedar Road, Florianville narrowly missed having his house reduced to a pile of ashes when the fire broke out in his backyard on January 28.
Community members were requested to assist the families who lost all their belongings in the fire.
The affected households included four young children and a one-month-old baby.
Shaine Griqua, from the Shaine Griqua Advice and Development Centre, explained that they were holding a funeral in Beach Road when the fire broke out.
“The shanties that were built at the back of the house burnt to the ground while there was no water in the taps,” said Griqua.
The owner of the house, Riaan Titus, said his tenants managed to flee from the raging flames and no serious injuries were sustained.
“My brother and his wife had to grab their two children and baby before the flames engulfed their home. My cousin and a friend were also staying in the shanties. Everything was lost in the fire that spread rapidly. I suspect the fire started as a result of an unattended cigarette,” said Titus.
He added that the main house suffered electrical damage, while some of the rooms were also blackened by the smoke.
“The telephone wires were also burnt in the process. We will have to survive without any power until the electrical cables are repaired.”
Titus said that his two young sons and his 75-year-old grandmother, who had suffered a stroke, were in the main house at the time of the fire.
“I was at work and rushed home at around noon. My neighbours tried to assist with the little water that they had stored in buckets. Luckily one of my neighbours, a police officer, phoned a personal contact at the fire brigade. I might have lost my house as well if I had to wait for assistance after following the normal channels of phoning emergency services.”
He indicated that the fire department had to make two trips to refill the fire truck with water in order to put out the blaze.
Titus estimated that it would cost around R10 000 to repair his home and rebuild the shanties.
“My brother is continuing to stay in his burnt-out shanty because he has nowhere else to go. I also cannot afford to leave the premises unattended as I am afraid it may be vandalised or my property stolen. I rely on odd jobs and I have to provide for my family.”
Sol Plaatje Municipality refused to offer any response as to what contingency measures were in place to prevent the loss of life and property to fires during water interruptions.
