A house in a complex was destroyed after a fire broke out on Monday afternoon, November 10. According to Anton Gerber from the Central Gauteng Fire Association (CGFA), the team received a call 17 minutes after noon.

“On arrival, there was still smoke coming from the unit. Upon further investigation, the fire was found to have spread into the roof,” Gerber said.

The fire was extinguished with the help of multiple emergency response services, including the Honeydew CPF Victim Support, GP Tactical, and Emergency Control SA.

“The majority of the house was lost in the blaze. The cause is still under investigation, and there were no injuries or evacuations reported,” Gerber confirmed.

Sharing advice on fire safety and response to such incidents, Gerber shared that residents need to let qualified personnel handle emergencies to prevent further damage or injuries.

Honeydew CPF’s Victim Support Team was activated through the Honeydew Emergency Group by GP Tactical.

“Our team is trained in trauma counselling and regularly attends incidents where residents need emotional support during traumatic events,” the Honeydew CPF public relations officer, Michael Steyn, said.

He added that seeing part of one’s home burn can have a lasting emotional impact.

Speaking on the importance of partnerships between the CPF, emergency response teams, and security companies, Steyn said, “The partnership between emergency services and the CPF is vital, as these first responders can quickly assess whether victim support is required.”

Steyn added that the Victim Support Team operates voluntarily and covers its own costs.