City’s disaster response teams assist 49 people of 53 households due to infernos

KHAYELITSHA: Two shacks were destroyed at 17:22 on Saturday, 02 February 2013 where 2 people lost all their personal belongings at Puma Road next to the Mew Way Hall in Harare, Khayelitsha.

PHILLIPI: At 19:19 on Saturday, 02 February 2013 an inferno gutted 1 house and 2 shacks that are located off Ingulubi Street opposite the Phillipi Railway Station leaving 5 people displaced.

PINELANDS: At 20:24 on Saturday, 02 February 2013 the Fire and Rescue Services was dispatched to a report of a formal house alight that occurred closed to Valkenberg Hospital. Upon arrival of the firefighters it was established that one shack was well alight affecting 2 people. At 21:21 the emergency crews brought the fire under control and extinguished it.

HANOVER PARK: At 13:11 on Sunday, 03 February 2013 a fire destroyed one shack leaving 4 people displaced at 1A Geneva Place, Ryston Road, Hanover Park.

GUGULETHU: The City was informed at 00:32 on Sunday, 03 February 2013 of a fire that destroyed 1 shack at 35 NY149 Street in Gugulethu that left one person displaced.

GUGULETHU: A subsequent fire was reported at 02:51 in Gugulethu situated at 109 NY 141 [Xolani Street] that destroyed 2 shacks that rendered 3 people homeless.

STEENBERG: At 07:46 this morning [Sunday, 03 February 2013] the City was alerted of a blaze that occurred at the corners of Bothma and Orchestra Street, Steenberg. It is suspected that the fire started at one of the shacks that spread to other structures and the dwellings. The fire destroyed 3 houses including 2 shacks leaving 20 persons destitute; including a baby.

BONTEHEUWEL: Three shacks were destroyed by a fire that occurred at 03:25 on Sunday, 03 February 2013 leaving 12 people homeless at 48 Netreg Road, Bonteheuwel.

During the course of today [Sunday, 03 February 2013] the City’s disaster response teams assisted the fire victims with the supply of food parcels, blankets, baby packs and clothing.

The City’s Informal Settlements Management Branch of the Human Settlements Directorate supplied building material to the affected households.

The authorities confirmed that no persons sustained any injuries or died as a result of these fires.

The circumstances around the infernos will be investigated by the local authorities.

End

Issued by: Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town

Source: Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects & Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town