Journey to rebuild: Montclair family determined to continue following house fire
A Montclair family are still recovering from the harrowing experience of losing their home to a fire just over a week ago.
A HOME on Glen Road in Montclair was left with smouldering rubble after a devastating fire engulfed the house on July 14. Amid the destruction, a daring rescue effort by two neighbours helped an elderly couple escape death.
Also read: Montclair residents rescue elderly couple from blaze
Freddy Gasurawe, a tenant at the house, shares the property with his wife and two sons. He said they were not at home when the fire started. “We had left the house around 08:30 and only my seven-year-old son was out playing with other children,” he said.
Shortly after, around 10:00, the fire started. Gasurawe’s son witnessed the smoke and flames and tried to run back inside to save some of their belongings but was stopped by nearby residents who warned him of the danger.
By the time the family returned, the house was in ruins.
“We lost everything, all our valuables and our appliances gone,” said Gasurawe.
Amidst the tragedy there was an act of heroism. Derek Chirwa, a neighbour, said he heard a woman screaming and initially assumed she was being robbed. “But then I saw the smoke and a woman crying and she said to me, ‘My mother and father are still inside sleeping,” said Chirwa.
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With no hesitation, Chirwa and his nephew, David Phiri, sprang into action. Shattering the windows, they were immediately driven back by thick smoke. He said they kicked on the side door and gained entry into the house. Battling through the smoke they found the elderly couple who were sleeping in the building.
“The elderly woman was in a wheelchair and couldn’t move. The elderly man was dazed and not responding. I used all my strength to drag him out. My nephew had already rescued the elderly woman. It was all God’s plan, there’s no other way to account for how we were able to go in and rescue them,” said Chirwa.
For the Gasurawe family, the emotional load is still heavy for them, but Freddy remains steadfast.
“It’s going to take time to heal from something like that. But I’m alive. I can work and I will rebuild,” he said.
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