Community’s unity in their time of trouble amazes Bethal couple whose house burned down
“It made me realise that most of us are not here to fight each other.”
BETHAL – Neighbours, farmers, the Bethal CPF-members and even passing taxi drivers helped to salvage the Briel–family of Bethal’s burning house on Friday, 21 May.
“Several taxis slammed on brakes and people jumped out to come to help us. They managed to get the garage open and the car to safety before it also caught fire,” said Mr Douw Briel.
Almost everything else perished in the inferno.
Mr Briel and his wife, Amanda, lived in this house next to All City Towing in Schlosberg Street for decades.
They moved into the flat on the property in February to accommodate their son, Mr Sewes Briel, and his family in the house. Most of their furniture and belongings remained in the main house.
Mr Sewes Briel, his wife Nikita and their three children, Steyn (13), Hanno (10) and Kayla (3) lived in the main house.
According to Mr Briel (senior), the fire originated in the main bedroom where his daughter-in-law and granddaughter were still asleep that morning.
“My son had already left for work and the eldest grandson went to school. Hanno was ill and stayed home that day. He was also still in bed when the fire erupted.”
Mr Briel (Snr) was tending the cattle on his smallholding when he heard his daughter-in-law scream.
“Nikita and the children were covered in soot and smoke was coming out of the house.” He tried to enter the house from the kitchen door, but the smoke was overwhelming.
“It was so thick and the heat was intense. I could not make it farther than a few steps into the house.”
The fire spread rapidly and was spurred on by a westerly wind.
People from everywhere showed up to help the Briels. They tried to extinguish the flames with water from a hosepipe, but this soon rendered ineffective when the borehole pipes in the house melted.
“The fire brigade was swift to respond, but despite all the efforts, the house is almost destroyed,” Mr Briel explained.
“Thank you to everyone who came to help us – Bethal CPF, neighbours, farmers in the area who brought their skid units, TWK, the fire brigade and the taxi drivers who broke open the garage and carried out our car.
“This touched my heart how our community can stand together to help one another. It made me realise that most of us are not here to fight each other, merely the bad things in life,” he said.
The senior Briels are also thankful towards Under Elm Trees guesthouse’s owners who offered them accommodation, and everyone else who offered help, support, prayers and donations in the aftermath of the fire.
Except for a spare bedroom towards the back of the house, the rest of the four-bedroom house has been charred and the roof collapsed.
An antique piano is the only thing in the living room that did not burn.
“Probably because Jaap Pretorius doused it with water that day,” explained Mr Briel (Snr).
The Briel grandchildren’s poodle Jessica did not survive the blaze. Their grandparents are however thankful that the children and grandchildren were unscathed.
