Man in his 40s dies as fire destroys five shacks in Thembisa settlement

A man in his forties died after a blaze gutted five shacks at the Vusimuzi Informal Settlement in Thembisa on Sunday night, city disaster officials said.

Fire response and scene

Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) spokesperson William Ntladi said firefighters responded to the informal settlement shortly before 10pm. A crew of six firefighters attended with one major pumper fire engine and immediately activated backup from Olifantsfontein fire station as the fire threatened neighbouring structures.

On arrival, crews carried out a rapid assessment, began fire-ground operations and contained and extinguished the flames using one attack line, Ntladi said.

Fatality and public action

Paramedics found an adult male with critical burn wounds; he was declared dead on scene by paramedics. Members of the public had been using a bucket-bridge system in an effort to control the blaze, Ntladi said.

Ntladi noted that the structures were built in close proximity, raising the risk of the fire spreading to other shacks.

Cause and handover

Preliminary investigations pointed to a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder allegedly used in one of the burnt shacks as the source of the fire, the spokesperson said. An in-depth investigation will be conducted by police and fire safety officers.

The scene was handed over to police for scene rehabilitation and the removal of the deceased to an appropriate forensic pathology facility.

Spokesperson account

“A crew of six firefighters responded out with one major pumper fire engine and immediately activated backup from Olifantsfontein fire station as the fire was reported to be spreading to other structures in the neighbourhood,”

“On arrival, a quick scene size-up was done, fire ground operations initiated, and flames contained and extinguished using one attack line,”

“Preliminary investigations lead to a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder, which was allegedly used from one of the burnt shacks as the cause of the fire. However, an in-depth investigation is to be conducted by police and fire safety officers,”

Authorities continue with the formal investigation into the incident.