Nine people lost their lives in the Cape Metro over the weekend due to informal structure fires

Nine people lost their lives in the Cape Metro over the weekend due to informal structure fires.

In the first incident, four persons sustained fatal burn wounds, including three minors, in an early morning fire in Manuel Street, Wallacedene, on Saturday,

‘’At 04:40, the bodies of a man and woman were discovered after firefighters extinguished a blaze in Bida Crescent, Victoria Mxenge,’’ said Jermaine Carelse, City of cape town Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson.

Later the day, firefighters responded to a wendy house burning in Epping Forest – they found the body of a minor beneath the debris.  Two other persons were displaced and unharmed.

Just after midnight on Sunday, an emergency call was received of structures alight near the Chris Hani High School in Khayelitsha.

‘’The fire was extinguished by 01:45 – two adults, genders unknown, sustained fatal burn wounds,’’ said Carelse.

According to the City of Cape Town, firefighters responded to 48 informal structure fires this weekend

‘’It was a grim weekend for our firefighters as they battled 48 informal structure fires in which nine people lost their lives. I want to extend my condolences to the families. Fires are devastating and traumatic for all those involved. As we head into summer and much higher temperatures,  I want to encourage residents to exercise caution at all times with open flames whether fires, candles or cooking methods,’’ said JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security.

‘’The unlawful occupation of land creates a number of challenges for the City and this includes our emergency and enforcement responses to incidents. Our officers are on scene in record time, but are hampered by other factors such as access. Current legislation urgently needs to be amended to prevent the proliferation of land invasions, which exacerbate fire risks,’’ he added.

The South African Police Service are probing the matter.

 

Done by: Mitchum George