According to Ms Nthapeng Mzileni, the disaster happened at No. 2639, the home of her 62-year-old mother, Ms Matabo Mzileni. Nthapeng’s sister, Kenelwe, and four of their children also live in the house.
She says her brother, Motlantesi, noticed smoke billowing from the house just after 03:00 on Sunday, 17 July. He woke everyone and called for help.
Despite the neighbours and fire department trying to quench the flames, the damage was significant. The roof was destroyed, and the beds were the only furniture to survive the blaze. There is currently no electricity.
Although disaster management officials visited the house, they only provided blankets. By the time of print, they had not offered any other help. Nthapeng says her mother is a pensioner who does not have money to fix the house. For anyone wanting to help the family, she says the roof is their biggest priority.
Anyone wishing to help the family can call Nthapeng at 081 483 3218.
Meanwhile, Sgt Tunase Majola of the Fochville SAPS confirmed that a 54-year-old woman of Kokosi Extension 5 died in a fire at her home in the early morning hours of 17 July.
According to the Public Information, Education and Relations (Pier) of the West Rand District Municipality’s fire services offers tips to prevent fires.
According to them, most fires are caused by carelessness or lack of thought or concentration. Heating and paraffin appliances can be hazardous if not used correctly. Candles, matches and lighters can also be dangerous if special care is not taken. Children need to be educated on the dangers of fire and told not to play with anything that could create an open flame.
Rules of household heating during winter:
Never use an electric oven to heat the house.
Keep children and pets at least one metre away from all heating units.
Never leave a heater unattended – including while you are sleeping.
Open fireplaces should always have a spark guard.
Always extinguish the fire in a fireplace before going to bed.
When using gas heaters and fireplaces, ensure that the room is adequately ventilated.
Never leave a heater on when leaving the house.
Do not place objects directly on top of heaters and leave a one-metre object-free space around them.
Always check cords and wiring on electrical heaters before using them, and don’t use devices with frayed or damaged wiring.
Don’t use extension cords or multi-plugs for your heaters.
Pier also offers fire safety tips during load shedding. At this time, the fire risk is mainly due to appliances like irons, hairdryers, cookers and heaters being inadvertently left on.
Home fire-safety checks
• Check for and replace faulty electrical outlets and old or outdated appliances.
• Replace any worn-out sockets as these are often not earthed properly.
• Test the earth leakage on the distribution board.
• Ensure any electrical multi-plug extensions are not overloaded.
• Invest in a small fire extinguisher for the home and ensure everyone knows where it is and how to use it.
