A man in his mid-40s lost his life after a fire destroyed five shacks in the Vusimuzi Informal Settlement in Thembisa on the evening of July 5.

Firefighters from the City of Ekurhuleni’s Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) in Thembisa responded to the incident after receiving an emergency call at 21:56.

According to DEMS media liaison officer William Ntladi, a crew of six firefighters was dispatched with a major pumper fire engine. Additional resources were immediately requested from the Olifantsfontein Fire Station after reports indicated that the fire was spreading to neighbouring structures.

“On arrival, a rapid scene assessment was conducted and firefighting operations were immediately initiated. The flames were contained and extinguished using one attack line,” said Ntladi.

Also read: Firefighters gain control of Brentwood Park industrial blaze

He added that community members had already begun battling the blaze using a bucket brigade system, helping to slow the spread of the fire before firefighters arrived.

An adult male was found with critical burn injuries and was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

“The structures were built in close proximity to one another, creating a high risk of the fire spreading to additional dwellings,” Tladi said.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder used in one of the destroyed shacks may have caused the fire. However, the exact cause remains under investigation by the police and fire safety officers.

The scene was handed over to the South African Police Service for further investigation and the removal of the deceased to a forensic pathology facility.

DEMS has urged residents to exercise extreme caution when using LPG cylinders.

“One mistake can change lives in seconds,” Ntladi warned.