Follow-up: Bethal community takes photos while house burns down
Firefighters managed to save three of the back rooms.
A couple returned home after a quick trip to the shop on 4 June to find their home in Percy de Kok Street in flames.
“The suspected cause of the fire was an electrical fault that was caused by an electrical blanket,” said Mr Bheki Kubheka, Govan Mbeki Municipal spokesman.
According to the tenant, Mr Themba Zulu, he switched on an electric blanket and quickly went to the supermarket to buy something to eat.
When he arrived home shortly before 12.30am, he saw thick smoke coming from a room.
Flames have already reached the roof and was spreading to the next room.
He raised the alarm and called for neighbours to help.
Emergency services arrived within minutes.
Neighbours and passersby tried to save some of the house’s content by dragging furniture from the burning house.
“The first call to the municipal call centre was made by a passer-by who noticed the fire when the occupants tried to extinguish it with buckets of water while others were taking pictures instead,” said Mr Kubheka.
The fire department tried to contain the blaze that had already spread to the roof of the house.
“Firefighters used the fire engine and a nearby hydrant.
“They did everything possible to minimise the spreading of the fire and managed to save three of the back rooms,” said Mr Kubheka.
Ms Cindy Swart from Bethal EMS said they treated four people for shock and smoke inhalation and transported a patient to Bethal Hospital shortly thereafter.
Govan Mbeki Municipality urged people to prevent fires and to refrain from leaving electrical appliances unattended.
“It is also important to phone the fire department immediately when you detect a fire.
“Time is a critical factor in a fire incident, because few minutes’ delay can result in more damages that could have been prevented if the fire was reported sooner,” said Mr Kubheka.
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