Fire brigade chaos as flames engulf house

Crocodile Creek owners Peter and Sheila Watson watched helplessly while waiting for the fire brigade as flames billowed through the roof of their house.

On Saturday morning after 9am, a fire started in the Watson’s home and with the thatch roof the fire quickly gained momentum.

Peter Watson said he was busy attending to guests at Crocodile Creek when one of their employees came rushing down to tell him that there was something wrong at the house.

“I couldn’t believe it, I was just there a while ago and now there were flames shooting through the roof,” he said.

He tried to go inside and save their passports and important documents.

“When I got in the house and tried to go upstairs, I realised it was just too hot and it would be futile,” he said.

Crocodile Creek is situated near Tongaat and falls under the Ethekwini municipality and the Tongaat fire station is the closest to their home.

However, when Watson made an emergency call to Tongaat fire station, they would not come to the family’s rescue.

“They told me we do not fall under their jurisdiction and that we must phone the fire station in Ballito,” said Watson.

The KwaDukuza Fire and Emergency Rescue immediately geared up to help and took the N2 highway to get to the Watsons as quick as possible.

“When they approached the tollgate, no one had change on them and they were refused to go through,” he said.

The fire truck then had to turn around and take the M4 through Tongaat.

“I eventually went down to see where they were and we met each other on the road.”

Watson said by the time the firemen arrived at their house, most of it was already destroyed.

A family friend who wanted to stay anonymous said the damage would have been less if the Tongaat fire station had attended to the emergency or if the tollgate had just let the KwaDukuza fire truck pass through.

Watson said it was a disaster.

“We couldn’t believe what happened and that the fire truck was not allowed through the tollgate,” he said.

They are still awaiting the fire inspectors report as to what might have caused the fire.

On Sunday, more than 30 people pitched up to help the Watson’s clean the remains and get rid of the burnt thatch.

“Sean le Clus and his wife Melanie, the first rugby team of Ashton International College in Ballito and Derek and Lolly Olds and their daughters really made some great effort and helped us a lot,” said Watson.

He said they appreciated the support very much, but insisted that the best support would be for people to visit Crocodile Creek.

“If anyone wants to help us out, they can come and pay us a visit at Crocodile Creek because it is business as usual. We are not closed. The only way we’ll be able to cover our losses is if there continues to be an income and nothing is stopping us from carrying on like before,” said Watson.

Fortunately the house was built in four sections and it was only the double storey middle section that got damaged, so the Watsons are still able to sleep in their own home.