Fires hit hard
2008-11-06
Lise Beyers
A WOMAN burnt to death this past weekend in Paarl East, while hundreds were left homeless in Mbekweni, also due to a fire. On Saturday afternoon, family members of Susanna Mentoor (42) came across her body, after a fire swept through her home in Plumbago Street. According to Mentoor’s brother-in-law, Andries Pietersen who lives in the flats next to her wooden home, said that the whole family was distraught after the terrible tragedy. “Susanna had been visiting us earlier the afternoon, and she then told my wife that she wanted to go and rest. “Shortly after this, the area was filled with a heavy stench of smoke. By the time we got to her house behind our flat, it had burnt to the ground.” Mentoor’s charred body was discovered on a chair were she had been sleeping. * The life of a three-year-old child was saved by a police officer, when a fire swept through an informal settlement in the OR area in Mbekweni Close to 300 people were left homeless in the early hours of Sunday morning, when a fire once again ravaged the area. This is the second fire in a week to cause havoc here. The officer, student-constable Phumeza Tatana ran into a burning shack, when she heard screams coming from within. If she had entered a minute later, both she and the baby would have been killed. After the fire, residents started to assault a young man, Phumlani Mthyobile, who was accused of starting the fire. Residents said that often people set their informal homes alight, just so that they can obtain a municipal relief pack, which is valued at hundreds of rands. During Mthyobiles assault, the police had to step in and rubber bullets were fired to subdue the angry mob. Mthyobile was taken to Paarl Hospital to be treated for his injuries. A spokesperson for the Drakenstein Fire Department said that the fire season is only just beginning and people should be extremely careful when using any open flames. The following safety precautions are recommend to combat fires, especially in informal settlements: * Keep matches, lighters and paraffin safely stored, and away from children’s reach. * Keep stoves on flat surfaces, away from drafts and never leave fires or cooking stoves unattended. * Put out all candles and lamps before you go to sleep or leave your home. * Don’t smoke in your bed. * Keep a bucket of water and a bucket of sand at hand. Use sand for paraffin fires and water for wood and paper fires. * If a fire is caused by an electrical fault, turn off the electricity before putting out the fire. * In the case of a gas utensil catching alight, first turn off the gas, then use a lid or damp cloth to put out the flames. If you cannot turn off the gas, get out of the building and stay out. * In case you are trapped in a burning building, crawl low under the smoke to escape the fire, and help other people to get to safety. * Contact the fire department as quickly as possible at 021-872-2323. Following these simple safety tips could save many lives in the long run.
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