Neighbours risk their safety to help on fire scenes in Secunda
Mr Bonkosi Mkhize, a municipal fireman, was injured when the roof gave way under him.
SECUNDA – A house in Secunda burned down on 28 June and another house’s lapa was destroyed in a fire on 1 June.
Besides the emergency personnel on both scenes, the effort of neighbours to help extinguish the fires was what stood out most.
Mr John Bezuidenhout was still helping to clear the scene long after most emergency workers left the burned-out house of Mr Chris Vermaak in Wolwespruit Street last Thursday.
He lives opposite the Vermaaks.
“I am not allowed to smoke in the house, so I was relaxing in my car in the driveway when I saw the smoke and flames billowing from the house across the street.”
Mr Bezuidenhout called for help on Zello and then began to douse the raging fire with a hosepipe.
When the firefighters arrived, Mr Bezuidenhout kept helping with unrolling the fire hoses, opening fire hydrants and carrying things out that could still be saved.
Firefighters, crime fighters, paramedics and concerned residents rushed to the scene to see how they could assist.
Members of StratconRisk assisted the municipal firefighters with numerous tasks such as carrying their gear, unwinding and connecting hoses. A few were even seen on the garage wall with a hosepipe helping to put out the flames.
Mr Alf Byleveldt from Jelani Security, a former firefighter turned community volunteer, worked shoulder to shoulder with the municipal firemen.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Mr Vermaak and his youngest, Kayla (14), were in Marloth Park when their home burned down.
Alan, his son, said he was sleeping at the time and woke up to smoke and flames. He ran for his life to get out of the house in time.
The roof eventually collapsed. It appears that the fire originated in the kitchen.
Although some of their clothes could be saved, the Vermaaks lost all their belongings. Mr Vermaak’s sister-in-law, Ms Martie Smit, thanked the community on behalf of the family.
“The response was incredible. Thank you to everyone who have been so kind and giving.
“Chris is currently consulting with the insurance company and will as soon as possible compile a list of the things that they need,” said Ms Smit.
https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/118583/watch-fire-fighters-damping-smouldering-remains-house-wolwespruit-street-secunda/
Caring neighbours were again the unsung heroes on Sunday when the lapa of a house in Vaalrivier Street went up in flames.
According to Ms Margaret Boshoff, she had left the house for only a few minutes to join her daughter and grandsons in the park when she heard on Zello someone calling that her house was on fire.
Neighbours from several houses in the street came rushing to the scene.
They had to break down the lapa door to gain access to an outside water tap. They were still helping to put out the smoldering thatch roof of the lapa long after the emergency services had arrived.
They toiled along with the firefighters, Jelani Security, StratconRisk, Afriforum’s Mr Jan du Plessis and Mr Jaco Horn of GTR to stop the fire from spreading to the house.
Mr Bonkosi Mkhize, a municipal fireman, was injured when the roof gave way under him. ER24 took him to the Mediclinic Highveld.
Ms Boshoff was visibly shaken by the incident, but extremely thankful for everyone who helped to save her home.
“I actually dreamed the night before that the lapa was burning and told my daughter in the morning of my disturbing dream. This is so strange,” she said.
Mr Mkhize was in a stable condition at time of going to press on Monday.
