Alberton North informal settlement blaze leaves residents stranded
Alberton North’s informal settlement, Funny Farm, has claimed the life of one dog, leaving a few residents stranded.
A fire that broke out on June 2 at Alberton North informal settlement in Second Avenue has claimed the life of one dog and left a few residents stranded.
The fire flared up in the early hours of the morning, destroying about four informal shelters.
It reportedly started in one of the backrooms and spread throughout the rest of the rooms on the same ground.
Nico Bezuidenhout, who has lived in the area with his wife for 12 years, said he lost all his belongings, including clothes, ID and a bit of food that was left.
“We managed to run out when it broke out, but the dog couldn’t make it. There were three more rooms in the back, which also caught fire. I’ve been threatened by one of the people living here who claimed that this piece of ground belongs to him and that I should not rebuild. We will now have to stay with my brother,” he said.
The 50-year-old said by the time the fire emergency services arrived on the scene, the shacks had already collapsed.
Paul Enemuo, who is self-employed and fixes electronics, also shared his devastation after losing his belongings worth thousands of rands. He lost more than 150 laptops, printers and TVs belonging to his clients.
Esmari Kruger of Animal Protection said: “We came in, assessed the place and found one dog dead; other dogs in the area are fine. The dead dog will be taken to Paws in Motion for cremation.”
Useful tips on how to prevent your house from going up in flames
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RSPA) has the following tips to prevent fire accidents:
• Keep all fires and heaters well-guarded, especially open fires.
• Keep portable heaters and candles away from furniture and curtains. Position them safely where they cannot be knocked over.
• Don’t dry or air clothes over or near the fire or the stove.
• Do not smoke in bed.
• Many fires start in the kitchen. Never leave a pan unattended when deep frying with cooking oil.
• If there are children around, keep matches and lighters well out of reach
• Fit approved smoke detectors on each floor. Choose a smoke alarm that is mains-operated or one with a long life (10-year) battery.
• Plan your escape route.
