100 homes razed in fire ‘caused by sausages’

Kosovo residents salvage what they can after a fire destroyed 100 homes in the area on Monday night. Picture: Cindy Waxa

Kosovo residents salvage what they can after a fire destroyed 100 homes in the area on Monday night. Picture: Cindy Waxa

Published Sep 27, 2016

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Cape Town - Residents of Kosovo informal settlement in Philippi are desperate for shelter after a blaze razed more than 100 homes, displacing more than 600 people.

Ward councillor Siphiwe Nqamndku said the fire is believed to have started after a resident left sausages frying on a paraffin stove while he went to buy bread.

A few hours later at about 7pm, when the man had not yet returned, neighbours noticed flames rising from his shack but at that point it was too late to save any belongings. Residents had no choice but to flee to save their lives.

The wind and rain brought little reprieve as it took the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services some time to reach the informal settlement and even longer to douse the flames.

Fire and Rescue Services spokesman Theo Layne said four fire engines, four water tankers and a rescue vehicle was called to the scene. More than 23 firefighters battled the blaze that was put out by 1am.

With more rain forecast for this week, Nqamndku said it would be difficult for residents to rebuild their shacks. “”We do not have a community hall where we can temporarily place people until authorities have sorted things out,” he said.

Families were out in the pouring rain on Monday morning collecting the charred remains of their belongings. They swept aside bent corrugated iron that used to form the walls to their homes..

Aphiwe Mafu, 12, said she panicked when she felt the heat reach her home and had only moments to get her family to safety. Her mother, Philiswa and older sister, Sihovelwa survived the ordeal.

“I feel so sad. I lost all of my clothes, my school clothes and all of the things I need. Where will my family go to?” she asked.

Cape Argus

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