Blocked access to the Sxavathini informal settlement in Copesville, Pietermaritzburg, forced Msunduzi firefighters to resort to extreme measures yesterday, hauling buckets of water by hand to extinguish a shack fire.

Speaking to The Witness, Msunduzi station officer Vusi Nene said about 10 shacks were gutted by flames yesterday afternoon.

“We are using buckets to douse the fire. We had to park the truck on the main road and walk quite a distance to the scene. The cause is undetermined. The fire has been contained,” added Nene.

A tenant who did not want to be named, and had moved in on Sunday, said the incident left him devastated.

“I was still moving my stuff to this new place, which I thought was better than where I used to stay before. I left to get the rest of my stuff today (Monday), I came back, the house is on fire,” said the distraught tenant.

He added that he lost most of his treasured documents.

“This is heartbreaking as I no longer have an identity document. All my hard work and savings to buy belongings had gone to waste,” he said.

Ward councillor Sphamandla Madlala sympathised with the families who lost their homes and belongings.

“This is sad. What we need to establish is what caused the fire. I have contacted the disaster management department to go to the scene and provide assistance,” he said.

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