70 shacks blazed in Denver
A number of families were left homeless when fire gutted 70 shacks at an informal settlement in Denver, Johannesburg on Saturday, June 27.
According to a reports by Independent Online (IOL), the fire which caused the damage was caused by an unattended paraffin stove that fell over in one of the shacks.
Johannesburg Emergency Services Spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi, was quoted as saying, “The firefighters have contained the blaze to stop it from spreading.There has fortunately been no injuries.”
Shortly after the incident had occurred, disaster management services assisted with arranging accommodation for the affected families who found themselves homeless within minutes.
With a cold front sweeping the country, emergency services were on alert for fires in informal areas as people try to keep warm.
Mulaudzi explained, “Emergency services are on high alert to attend to emergencies this winter. We advise residents to be careful when using cooking instruments such as paraffin stoves and be alert to prevent injuries and deaths caused by fires.”
It was not clear how many people were affected.
