FIRE UPDATE: Emergency services and police help salvage residents’ belongings in Msawawa
MSAWAWA - A fire swept through Msawawa informal settlement on the afternoon of 11 November.
There are varying reports of the extent of the damage. While emergency services say between 25 and 50 shacks were burnt, police on scene believed it to be closer to around 200 shacks that were burnt.
Chairperson of the Douglasdale Community Policing Forum (CPF) Jean Berdou said the fire broke out at about 1pm on 11 November.
Also read 29 Shacks burnt to the ground in Msawawa in June.
Berdou said, “The first report about the fire was that the flames were fanned out by strong winds and it was difficult for dwellers to salvage their belongings. The emergency assistance, including City of Joburg Emergency Services, Douglasdale CPF, Londoloza Protection Group, Douglasdale police Sector 1 and 2 neighbourhood watches, staff from Judah Africa Revival Ministry and emergency teams ER24 and Emer-G-Med, responded to the scene.”
He said the CPF has activated the area management disaster plan and said that the municipality and the Lonehill community have dispatched water tankers in the township.
Berdou said there was an emergency appeal for canned food, maize meal, baby formula, nappies, blankets, old clothes and soap for the residents who have lost their homes. He said these items can be dropped off with volunteers at Judah Africa Revival Ministry, based in Randburg (076 643 2663 and judahafrica@vodamail.co.za), for distribution in the township. He also said community members were welcome to assist the church in cooking food for the residents.
“We ask the public not to approach the area as there are multiple exploding gas bottles and the Douglasdale police and support unit are in the process of cordoning off the area and ask the members of the public to be careful,” said Berdou.
Douglasdale police spokesperson Warrant Officer Balan Muthan said, “It’s a sad day for people affected by the fire, but the Douglasdale police are doing all they can to help.”
Emergency services attending to the scene of the fire rescued three puppies from the blaze who were suffering from smoke inhalation. The puppies were taken to the SPCA.
11 November, 3.34pm:
Over 25 shacks have been burnt in a fire which raged through Msawawa informal settlement on the afternoon of 11 November.
City of Joburg Emergency Services spokesperson Nana Radebe said the services managed to extinguish the blaze and are still on the scene. No one was injured.
ER24 estimated that at least 50 shacks were burnt in the fire and also said no injuries had been sustained.
Radebe said the cause of the fire is unknown at this time and investigations are underway. She said people were trying to save their property from the flames.
Thick smoke from the fire is still hanging over the settlement.
Social media was also abuzz on the afternoon of 11 November with community members uploading footage and their comments about the fire:
@randburg_sun fierce fire gutted down more than 300 shacks in msawawa informal settlement pic.twitter.com/5bGCZL1NWV
— Phathu Luvhengo (@LuvhengoPhathu) November 11, 2015
@randburg_sun people are collecting their belongings whilst the fire is in progress msawawa fire pic.twitter.com/ChMzyIfeiO
— Phathu Luvhengo (@LuvhengoPhathu) November 11, 2015
Donations of food, clothing, bedding anything! Is needed for Msawawa. Pls bring to Jenni at 221 Seven Oaks ave. Chartwell thank you #fire
— Rowena Alexander (@alex_row) November 11, 2015
@ANCJHB 2587 are on fire now Msawawa near kyasand pic.twitter.com/RghpImqRua
— modikwe billy (@modikwe_billy) November 11, 2015
More 2000 shacks burnt down in Msawawa,Kya Sand pic.twitter.com/bSofVYt4QJ
— IG: MojoIOL (@MojoIOL) November 11, 2015
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