Sporadic structural fires which occurred within the Mangaung Metro Municipality over this weekend left a trail of damages. The causes thereof will be investigated.
Devastating fires were reported in three metro towns: Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu, respectively. However, no fatalities were reported at six fire incidents that fire fighters dealt with starting Friday, 4 till Sunday, 6 July.
Braam van Zyl, Fire Chief of the Mangaung Metro fire and Rescue Department, said the teams of firefighters dealt with three structural fire incidents, including one shack as well as two grass fires. The shack fire occurred at the informal settlement called Gatvol in Heidedal in Bloemfontein, while grass fire incidents were at Brandkok and Barden Street in Lakeview, respectively.
Van Zyl said one person was treated for smoke inhalation on scene and transported to hospital for further care by ambulance. It is reported the person was among the scores who helped to put out the blaze at the residential complex in Boerneef Street, Langenhoven Park in Bloemfontein early in the evening on Saturday.
Van Zyl said the occupants of the affected townhouse were not present at the time the fire occurred.
“It seems when the fire starts, nobody was present at home. Members of the neighbourhood watch activated the neighbours, then also called the fire department, which responded within eleven minutes. But when we arrived the roof had already collapsed. Volunteers including the Neighbourhood watch were already busy trying to put out the fire,” said Van Zyl.
He said the blaze was extinguished, thanks to coordinated efforts involving the Mangaung Fire and Rescue, Fidelity Secure Fire, and Fire Ops SA and members of the neighbourhood watch in Langenhoven Park.Van Zyl said the fire department’s forensic team will start with their investigation into cause of the fire on Monday. He said the fire incident in Thaba Nchu occurred at a house in Moroka location.
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