Monday 18 March 2013

City enacts mutual aid agreement to assist with Stellenbosch fire disaster

The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services was requested to provide assistance in the early hours of this morning, 15 March 2013, following the fire that occurred after midnight at the Kayamandi informal settlement in Stellenbosch.

The City dispatched three fire engines, three water tankers, and a service vehicle from the following fire stations: Kraaifontein, Goodwood, Milnerton, Bellville, Belhar and Kuils River.

At 05:49 this morning the Fire and Rescue Services of the Cape Winelands, Drakenstein and the City of Cape Town municipalities surrounded the fire and prevented it from spreading.

The Executive Mayor of Stellenbosch, Councillor Conrad Sidego, called upon the City of Cape Town to assist with disaster relief due to its specialised knowledge and capacity in dealing with large-scale incidents of this nature. The City deployed officers from its Disaster Risk Management Centre to assist with the coordination of logistical arrangements for the provision of humanitarian relief aid to the victims.

The blaze destroyed approximately 600 structures leaving over 2 500 people homeless. The authorities have confirmed that two adult males lost their lives.

The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, but it is suspected that it started as a result of an unattended paraffin stove in one of the informal structures.

The staff from the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre will remain in Stellenbosch until the situation has been stablised.

End

Issued by: Integrated Strategic Communication and Branding Department, City of Cape Town

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

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