Firefighters deny responding late to C-Live fire
Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) has denied responding late to the fire in which DJ Clive ‘C-Live’ Shabalala’s son, 11, died on Sunday.
Nadif Kgoleng was killed after a fire engulfed his father’s house in Bez Valley, shortly after 10pm,Joburg East Express reported.
The Johannesburg EMS was responding to comments made by the ward 66 councillor, Carlos da Rocha.
“Though I don’t blame them for the death of the child, it took more than 15 minutes to get to the scene and more than 15 minutes to connect to the hydrant before the firefighters could start extinguishing the fire.
“The Fairview Fire Station is about two minutes from the scene when there is no traffic. There is no reason for them to take that long,” he said.
EMS spokesperson Nana Radebe said the Berea Fire Station was the appropriate station to respond.
“According to our work demarcation, Bez Valley is serviced by the Berea Fire Station. The Fairview Fire Station caters for Jeppe and the surrounding areas.
“Our records state that we were on time when responding. We received a call at 10.40pm. We dispatched Berea Fire Station vehicles at 10.44pm and arrived at the house by 10.57pm. When we arrived, the community was helping to extinguish the fire,” she said.
She said no complaints were received about a delay.
“It is the standard procedure that when we arrive at the scene of a fire, we connect to a hydrant if possible. We connect to the hydrant even though the truck has 3 000 litres of water in it. Without the hydrant, the water in the truck would last for only three to five minutes. That is why we connect to the hydrant,” she said.
Radebe said according to the records, everything was done on time.
DJ Clive ‘C Live’ Shabalala sustained serious injuries while trying to save his son, Nadif. He is recuperating in hospital.
– Caxton News Service
Read original story on joburgeastexpress.co.za
