WATCH: Fire guts garage and vehicle on Minida Road, residents escape unharmed
Two men escaped unharmed when a fire engulfed a garage and a vehicle in Primrose.
Two Minida Road residents survived a Friday afternoon fire that gutted a garage and vehicle, sparking concerns over fire safety and hydrant access.
What began as an ordinary afternoon quickly turned into chaos on September 19, when thick, black smoke billowed into the skies above Primrose.
The source was soon traced to a property on Minida Road, where a vehicle had caught alight, with flames rapidly spreading to the adjacent garage.
@bedfordview.edenv Emergency teams are containing a house fire between Minida and Croydon roads in Primrose. Residents should avoid the area. #PrimroseFire #BreakingNews #HouseFire #EmergencyServices #GautengNews
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The fire escalated quickly due to dense surrounding vegetation, prompting calls for emergency assistance.
Primrose SAPS officers were already on the scene when the fire department arrived.
@bedfordview.edenv William Ntladi, spokesperson for Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, confirmed firefighters quickly contained the Primrose house fire and no injuries were reported. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. #PrimroseFire #EkurhuleniEmergency #WilliamNtladi #FireUpdate #CommunitySafety
Alarmed bystanders watched as small explosions from combustible materials inside the property added urgency to the growing fire.
Emergency services faced their first obstacle at the locked gate. Firefighters had to force entry, while others began dousing the flames from outside the property fence.
Despite the challenges, they brought the fire under control, with quick co-ordination preventing it from reaching the main house.
William Ntladi, the DEMS spokesperson, said they received a call at 12:06 pm.
@bedfordview.edenv Eugene Du Toit, the resident occupier, explained what happened before the Primrose house fire and urged the community to offer support. Anyone willing to help can contact him at 071 370 6210. #PrimroseFire #CommunitySupport #Ekurhuleni #FireRecovery #HelpNeeded
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“Upon arrival, the fire teams found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames. The fire had spread to the garage, which was packed with combustibles, but the three-bedroom house on the property was unaffected,” said Ntladi.
He said a mud-covered fire hydrant complicated their access to water, expressing concern over damaged hydrants because residents misuse them for things like washing cars.
“We often find hydrants covered or tampered with. It delays our ability to respond efficiently to real emergencies. We urge residents not to obstruct or damage hydrants,” said Ntladi.
Eugene du Toit, a resident at the property, described the moment he noticed the fire.
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“I tried using a hose, but it quickly got out of hand. I had to grab our dogs and get to safety while calling for help. The garage, filled with antiques collected for resale, was destroyed.
“I recently lost my job. Selling antiques was how we kept going. Now, we’ve lost everything, even our only car, an old Astra,” said Du Toit.
Despite the losses, Du TOit and his father escaped unharmed. He now faces the grim task of cleaning up and assessing the damage, while continuing to search for employment.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, while the DEMS again emphasised the importance of accessible and well-maintained emergency infrastructure.
