Are these blaze winter incidents? A Fire Contained at Abandoned House in Ekurhuleni

(The Post News)- Investigations are underway after a fire broke out in an illegal abandoned house in Albertina at Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, this morning. The City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Services responded to the incident and contained the blaze with the assistance of nearby fire stations.

According to Ekurhuleni EMS spokesperson Erick Moloka, the fire was brought under control without spreading to adjacent structures. A thorough search and rescue operation was conducted, and no injuries or fatalities were reported.The cause of the fire is believed to be linked to illegal occupants. Moloka says the city’s fire safety official will conduct a further investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident. The fire has been extinguished, and damping-down operations were carried out to prevent any potential reignition.

This is the second blaze to be reported in Ekurhuleni; on Monday, 26 May, six family members were reported dead in the Marikana informal settlement, Kwathema, after a fire had broken out in their home. The fire destroyed the home of the seven family members, and they were trapped inside while sleeping. Only a seven-year-old managed to escape but was critically wounded.

Nonetheless, on Tuesday, 27 May, a 55-year-old man from Palm Ridge, on the East Rand, died after his shack had bent. According to EMS spokesperson Katlego Mphalele, they had received a call at about 23:39 that there was a blaze in a shack in Palm Ridge.

Maphelele says firefighting efforts were immediately initiated after the blaze and the blaze was successfully brought under control. Following the extinguishing of the flames, a search operation was conducted, which led to the discovery of a charred body in the room. Maphelele says the body was believed to be that of a 55-year-old male, who was the occupant of the shack.