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A house fire in Mayfair has left four toddlers dead, with early reports linking the blaze to a heating device.
Picture: Supplied.
The Mayfair community in Johannesburg is in mourning after four children, under the age of two years old, tragically died in a house fire on Monday morning.
The City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) responded to a house on fire near 8th Avenue and West Street at around 11am.
Four children die in Mayfair house fire
EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said that upon arrival, the firefighters found the house on fire, and they started firefighting operations.
“While conducting a search and rescue operation, four bodies of young kids ranging from two years and below were recovered. Unfortunately, they were confirmed dead on the scene by Gauteng EMS paramedics,” Mulaudzi said.
“It appears they might have suffered smoke inhalation during this fire incident.”
Watch the CoJ EMS speak on the fire here:
He said the EMS was told that one child was a year and seven months old, one was one year and one month old, and one was one year and nine months old.
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According to the EMS, the cause of the fire is believed to be a heating device that was in use before the blaze started.
The city’s fire investigation team is on site conducting a preliminary investigation.
Creche and spaza operating from house – reports
It is believed that a crèche and spaza shop were operating from the house.
The Gauteng Provincial Joint Operation Committee (JOC) issued a warning to Johannesburg residents to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
“The area around 8th Avenue and West Street in Mayfair is currently closed due to an earlier fire with fatalities. Services are still on scene,” the JOC said at around 2:30pm.
The EMS urged Johannesburg residents to exercise caution when using heating devices. This is as the South African Weather Service (Saws) has issued a warning for extremely cold temperatures from this Wednesday, 21 May.
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