The Ernest family from Esperanza Street are coming to terms with losing nearly everything after a fire broke out at their home in the early hours of March 15.
According to husband Jerome, it was shortly after 04.30 on Sunday when his wife Beverley woke him up in a panic, saying there was a fire near their front gate.
“I jumped out of bed and ran to the door to see what was going on.
“Unfortunately, by that time the fire was so hot that it was impossible to go out into the front yard.”
He adds that by this time, both his and his wife’s cars, which were parked in their driveway, had caught fire.
“We retreated into the house and fled through the back door to safety,” he says.
“Our neighbours immediately called the fire brigade, and after a while, when they did not arrive, drove to the Florida Fire Station to alert them.”
Jerome, a motor mechanic who works from home, says the fire originated from a large drum in which he keeps old motor oil.
“I strongly suspect foul play because, even though oil is flammable, it does take some doing to ignite.
“In addition, it had been drizzling steadily throughout the evening. Oil cannot spontaneously ignite.”
Watch: Family home in Florida burns
The fire brigade arrived more than 45 minutes later. The oil drum had completely melted away, both the family’s vehicles and their steel carport were completely destroyed, and the fire had spread into the roof of the house.
The vehicle of a customer also sustained serious damage.
“Our house is completely ruined,” says a distraught Beverley. “That which was not burned sustained substantial damage due to smoke, soot, and water used to put out the flames.”
Jerome adds that a fire truck had to be dispatched from the Brixton Fire Station, as there was not one available at Florida.
The Roodepoort Record spoke to Johannesburg Emergency Management Services spokesperson, Robert Mulaudsi, who clarified that the fire engine from the Florida Fire Station was at the time engaged at another emergency, thereby necessitating the sourcing of an available fire engine from Brixton.
“We’ve received such an overwhelming response from the Florida community,” says Jerome. “People have come forward donating food and clothes, and we will be forever thankful.
“Our focus now is to start rebuilding and repairing the damage.”
After living with family in the south for a few days, the family has now rented a property just a few houses away.
“We need to be close by so that we can spend as much time as possible rebuilding,” says Jerome, adding that while the house remains unoccupied, they run the risk of it being invaded by vagrants.
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