“Two children between the ages of six and eight lost their lives, and two people were transported to a nearby medical facility. The cause of the fire is still a subject of investigation,” she said.
The EMS' Robert Mulaudzi has warned against leaving paraffin stoves and imbawulas unattended.
“It is extremely cold in most parts of the city of Johannesburg. Residents are urged to exercise caution when using heating devices while trying to warm themselves. [When] using heaters, paraffin stoves, braziers, or imbawula, do not leave them unattended while in use, so that we can be able to prevent fire incidents which might occur during these extremely cold temperatures,” Mulaudzi.
He said residents are advised to use a brazier or imbawula in a well-ventilated area and take it out before going to bed.
“Residents who are using heaters should not leave them unattended while in use, and residents who are using candles must try and avoid using cold drinks or beer bottles as a candle holder, since that candle might fall and you might have a fire incident at home,” he said.
Meanwhile, the N2 highway in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal has been closed due to snowfall this is as the SA Weather Services has increased the warning in Eastern Cape to level 9.
Weather forecaster Lehlogonolo Thobela said that with the increased level, disruptive rain is expected to result in flooding.
Exercise caution when keeping warm to avoid house fires –Joburg EMS
Five people die ablaze in two days
Johannesburg Emergency Services (EMS) has warned to exercise caution when trying to keep warm this winter, as five people have lost their lives in house fires in the past two days.
Two of the fires occurred on the same day.
EMS spokesperson Nana Radebe said the fires took place in Mayfair, Mapetla and Braamfishcer.
“On Monday around 9pm, EMS responded to a structural fire in Mapetla, Soweto, where an adult male died of smoke inhalation.”
The other fire occurred in the early hours of Monday in Mayfair West.
“Tragically, two individuals, a mother and a child, lost their lives in the incident. Four other patients were rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment of smoke inhalation and minor burn injuries.
“In the early hours of Sunday morning, City of Joburg EMS responded to a house fire at Braamfischerville, Soweto. On arrival, firefighters found the house well alight and started fighting the fire.
“Two children between the ages of six and eight lost their lives, and two people were transported to a nearby medical facility. The cause of the fire is still a subject of investigation,” she said.
The EMS' Robert Mulaudzi has warned against leaving paraffin stoves and imbawulas unattended.
“It is extremely cold in most parts of the city of Johannesburg. Residents are urged to exercise caution when using heating devices while trying to warm themselves. [When] using heaters, paraffin stoves, braziers, or imbawula, do not leave them unattended while in use, so that we can be able to prevent fire incidents which might occur during these extremely cold temperatures,” Mulaudzi.
He said residents are advised to use a brazier or imbawula in a well-ventilated area and take it out before going to bed.
“Residents who are using heaters should not leave them unattended while in use, and residents who are using candles must try and avoid using cold drinks or beer bottles as a candle holder, since that candle might fall and you might have a fire incident at home,” he said.
Meanwhile, the N2 highway in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal has been closed due to snowfall this is as the SA Weather Services has increased the warning in Eastern Cape to level 9.
Weather forecaster Lehlogonolo Thobela said that with the increased level, disruptive rain is expected to result in flooding.
“Disruptive rain is expected to result in flooding, widespread flooding of roads and settlements, a danger to life due to fast-flowing streams or deep waters, widespread transport routes and travel services are expected to be severely affected, widespread prolonged disruptions to essential services like water, electricity, communities, and schools.
“The weather service warns the public to be aware of the weather warning. It is an Orange Level 9 which is quite severe in terms of impact with a medium likelihood,” he said.
KZN Transport MEC Siboniso Duma said the closure of the N2 highway was between Kokstad and Pietermaritzburg, with part of R603 also being closed.
“To save lives, we have decided to close completely the road between Kokstad and Pietermaritzburg as well as the R603,” he said.
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