Prefab house destroyed by fire

MALALANE – Neighbours rushed to assist when a house in Hoep Hoep Street, Fish Eagle Bend went up in flames late on Sunday afternoon.

Though the prefabricated structure burnt to the ground, neighbouring houses were prevented from catching fire.

No one was injured. Only ashes remained after the whole structure was consumed. The fire was first spotted by neighbours from a multi-storey block of flats across the road.

The house was occupied by an undisclosed number of young workmen. During the blaze some members of the local Indian community rushed to the scene and a woman in traditional Indian attire was seen fleeing the scene in tears.

Corridor Gazette met with the owner of the property, Mr Abdul Patel. He is a member of the family which owns a well-known building-supply business in the Nkomazi area. Patel confirmed that everything had burnt in the fire and nothing could be saved. He dismissed claims of an undisclosed amount of cash wrapped in cloth removed from the ashes once the flames had been put out. “When the fire started most of the men staying in the house were out playing cricket. Those still inside managed to get out in time. They told me there was no time to consider grabbing belongings, so everything burnt along with the house,” Patel explained.

Neighbours used their garden hoses, trying to get water as close as possible to the burning house as well as to protect structures nearby. Residents tackled the flames regardless of being warned of possible explosions of liquid-petrolium gas bottles.

It was only after Corridor Gazette arrived an the scene that the local fire brigade was called.

It arrived within five minutes but the highly inflammable structure was already engulfed in flames.

Patel said he was thankful to the whole community for coming out to help.

“I am so proud of the community, everyone, from all racial groups black, Indian and white. All we can say is thank you very much,” he said.

Construction was being done on the premises, and some cement bags and building material stored in a car port survived the fire.

“For now I am just going to clean up the stand and leave it like that. Maybe next year I will consider rebuilding on the property,” Patel added. An investigation into the cause of the fire is already under way, and preliminary reports have indicated an electrical surge as a possible cause.