100 dwellings were burnt in the Masiphumelele fire on Monday. Images: Facebook/Jonathan Mills.
Masiphumelele fire: One person dead, 430 displaced
The fire, which broke out early on Monday, was fanned by a strong southeasterly wind, said the City’s Fire and Rescue Service.
100 dwellings were burnt in the Masiphumelele fire on Monday. Images: Facebook/Jonathan Mills.
A fire broke out in Masiphumelele near Fish Hoek, Cape Town in the early hours of Monday, 31 October. The City’s Fire and Rescue Services rushed to the scene and battled the blaze for hours.
MASIPHUMELELE FIRE LEAVES HUNDREDS DISPLACED
The Fire and Rescue spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said the matter was first reported at 2:45 on Monday.
“Kommetjie Road fire station’s crew was first on scene and confirmed numerous informal structures burning, fanned by a strong South-Easterly wind, and called on more resources to help bring the blaze under control,” he said.
A total of 70 firefighters and 18 firefighting appliances – from stations across the city – were used to bring the blaze under control just before 5:00.
At least one person was found with fatal burn wounds, said Carelse.
Jonathan Mills, the Ward 69 safety and security representative, said the fire broke out in the D-Section near the bottom of Masiphumelele. He asked affected residents to stand by their plots and list the names of everyone who lived there.
An official list of those affected by the fire would be used to provide relief, explained Mills in a Facebook post.
Later, the City of Cape Town announced that 100 dwellings were lost in the Masiphumelele fire. Around 430 persons have been displaced.
The City said emergency shelter will not be activated as the fire victims will stay with family and friends.
However, humanitarian assistance will be provided by SASSA, Gift of the Givers and Living Hope.
The Department of Home Affairs will be issuing temporary Identity Documents to Masiphumelele matriculants who lost their documents in the fire.
“City services including Informal Settlements Management, Solid Waste, Water and Sanitation and Electricity are on site and busy with damage assessments,” said the City.
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