Flat fire family overwhelmed by support

The owner of the Sweetwaters flat that was engulfed in flames after a gas bottle caught alight on Sunday, 26 July has been overwhelmed by the support from neighbours, his church AFM Kingsway Care and Sweetwaters management.

“We are staying in a holiday flat that was given to us while we are cleaning our flat up and every night we have a plate of food brought to us,” said Freddie Lewis.

“For people like us who are always giving, to now be on the receiving end, it is overwhelming.”

Freddy, though, has been angered by false reports about the fire making the rounds on social media and would like to set the record straight on exactly what happened.

“I made a potjie on the gas burner the night before and heated it up on Sunday to add in dumplings. After about an hour when I went to call my wife, I heard a loud ‘shhh’ like gas escaping.”

Having experience with gas, Freddie told his wife to grab the children and run out of the flat.

“When I went into the kitchen I saw flames coming out from the bottom of the burner.

I ran out and warned the neighbours. I tried to go back inside and turn off the gas, but the heat and gas fumes were so high, I couldn’t.

With help from some neighbours, we tried to confine the fire with fire hoses.

Someone brought me a portable fire extinguisher and I managed to kill the fire with foam.

Then the fire department came and took over.

It was a big ordeal. We tried to keep the fire to one side. Thanks to Dean, Willem, Mike, Allex and Donald for their help.”

Nonetheless, according to Freddie, his kitchen is completely gutted and the flat sustained water and heat damage.