A family escaped unharmed after a fire tore through the upper level of a double-storey home in Glen Erasmia on the afternoon of July 6, destroying four bedrooms and causing extensive damage to the roof.

Smart Security Services (SSS) responded after receiving a call at 13:31 and was the first emergency service to arrive on the scene at 13:41.

According to SSS owner Rory Smart, about half of the upstairs of the house was already fully engulfed in flames when crews arrived, with part of the roof having already collapsed.

SSS Armed Reaction firefighter Sean Kruger immediately began firefighting efforts. Assisted by members of the community, he worked to contain the blaze until additional emergency services arrived.

Smart also prevented the home’s domestic worker from re-entering the burning building and safely rescued a tortoise from the garden.

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The homeowner told emergency responders he had been working in his upstairs study when he noticed smoke filling the main bedroom.

He quickly evacuated his two teenage children and the family dog before calling for assistance.

Additional support arrived from ADT, Fire Ops and the City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), with firefighters from the Albertina Sisulu Corridor, Kempton Park, Thembisa and Olifantsfontein fire stations responding with 18 officials.

According to DEMS media liaison Erik Maloka, firefighters used both offensive and defensive firefighting techniques to bring the blaze under control while protecting neighbouring properties.

Although the fire spread across the roof and severely damaged four bedrooms and the dining area, firefighters managed to prevent it from spreading to the ground floor. Only the private dining room was reportedly salvageable.

During the operation, an ADT firefighter sustained minor injuries when part of the collapsing roof struck him, knocking off his helmet.

He was treated at the scene by ER24 before being transported to Arwyp Medical Centre for further assessment.

“We commend all the emergency responders and community members who assisted during this incident. We are also grateful that the occupants of the home were able to evacuate safely and that no serious injuries were reported,” said Smart.

Communications and dispatching were coordinated through the Share It Live network.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Local fire safety officials are investigating the incident.