Two people died after a blaze broke out at a residential property in Edenglen in the early hours of August 29.

According to the City of Ekurhuleni’s Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) media liaison, William Ntladi, the bodies of a father believed to be in his 50s and his four-year-old son were recovered from the scene.

Although the cause of death is unknown at this stage, Ntladi said it is believed the father and son died in the fire.

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Firefighters from the Edenvale, Primrose and Bedfordview fire stations responded to the blaze on Collins Street at 03:35.

“On arrival, the top section of the double storey house was engulfed by flames,” said Ntladi.

He said by the time emergency personnel arrived on scene, material from the roof had already collapsed.

Ntladi said when firefighters arrived, suppression of the fire was immediately initiated to prevent further structural damage.

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“Four upper bedrooms, a walk-in closet and a separate ablution facility were already fully engulfed and flames were threatening the remaining seven rooms of the house.”

DEMS search and recovery operations

Ntladi said once the fire was contained and extinguished, search, rescue and recovery commenced.

During fireground operations, the road was temporarily closed.

“The bodies of a man in his fifties and that of a four-year-old child were discovered in one room.

“As per information received, there were only three individuals in the house at the time of the fire,” said Ntladi.

A nine-year-old girl, the third person in the house, escaped unharmed and was taken to safety by neighbours.

Ntladi said the cause of the fire is currently unknown and is the subject of an investigation.

He said police forensic officers and DEMS fire safety officers are investigating the matter.