Fire destroys 2 houses and 4 backyard dwellings in Kraaifontein – 43 people homeless

A fire occurred at 20:43 on Saturday, 03 November 2012 in Scottsville, Kraaifontein.

The City’s Fire & Rescue Services was dispatched to the scene of the incident and arrived at 20:54.

The fire destroyed one shack and a house at 14 Green Street that sustained severe fire damage.

The blaze spread to the adjacent property at 59 Petunia Street that gutted 1 shack and a house that sustained slight fire damage.

Another two shacks located at 61 Petunia Street was completely destroyed.

At 21:33 the Fire & Rescue Services brought the fire under control.

As a result of the blaze three adult females suffered smoke inhalation and were treated on-scene by crews from the Fire & Rescue Services.

The dwellings situated at 59 and 61 Petunia Street is owned by the City; and the Human Settlements Department informed the insurers to conduct and assessment to effect emergency repairs to the units as a matter of urgency.

The property situated at 14 Green Street is privately owned.

The City’s disaster response teams assisted all the victims that were affected by the fire with clothing, food parcels, blankets and building material.

Accordingly to eyewitness accounts it is believed that the fire started at 14 Green Street; however the South African Police Services have opened an inquest docket to investigate the incident.


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