A Wesbank pastor says a fire caused by the surge in krag after loadshedding destroyed his home-based church, his two cars and all his belongings on Tuesday night.
Pastor Hendrik Stevens said he was sleeping in his Parson Crescent home when his wife woke up to find their roof and bed on fire.
“We had loadshedding at 8pm so my wife and I went to sleep and at 10.20pm, she woke me up screaming because the roof was on fire and flames were coming down the wall,” Pastor Stevens says.
“I tried to push the vonkies away from the bed but it was just coming and I could hear [what sounded] almost like gunshots coming from the electric box above the bed.
“I went to my daughter’s room and we ran out of the house but the fire kept growing and it came out into the extension in the front and it also burnt my motorbike and my two cars.
“Everything just burned down and I only have the clothes on my back.
“Thankfully nobody was really hurt, just a few burns.”
When the Daily Voice visited the house yesterday, piles of burnt debris, remains of furniture were seen and the frames of two cars stood in the driveway.
“We had a wooden extension in the front of the house where most of the furniture was and it’s all gone now.
“My church, Endtime Ministries, is based here by the house so we lost a lot more than just our physical home and our belongings.
Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said four fire crews responded the blaze was extinguished at 12.32am while the cause is unknown.
“A man and a woman were treated for smoke inhalation with no other injuries reported,” he adds.
If you would like to help Pastor Stevens, you can reach him on 068 206 8289.