A total of 45 informal structures caught fire early Saturday morning, leaving 250 residents homeless. No deaths or serious injuries were reported during the incident.
Charles Mabaso, spokesperson for the Tshwane emergency service, says members of the emergency service responded to a fire incident early Saturday morning where 45 huts at the Plastic View informal settlement caught fire.
Mabaso says one patient received treatment for smoke inhalation and moderate injuries, after which she was taken to hospital for further treatment.
“Three people suffered moderate injuries and were treated at the scene; however, they refused to go to a medical facility for further treatment,” says Mabaso.
About 250 people lost their shelter and personal belongings due to the fire.
“Emergency personnel were called to the scene just after 04:30. When they arrived at the scene, they found several burning cabins and immediately started fire fighting. The fire was later brought under control and then extinguished.”
Mabaso says the Tshwane Emergency Services Department will intensify public awareness campaigns at this informal settlement as part of ongoing fire safety and risk reduction guidance to the community.
“The department calls on residents to use paraffin stoves with extreme caution, never to leave open fires unattended or unsupervised by adults and never to overload electrical plugs with appliances.
“Illegal connections of electricity are a fire and life hazard that can lead to emergencies and residents must always be aware of this,” says Mabaso.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
