These informal homes were destroyed after fires started inside the shacks.
A 36-year-old man has died in a tragic fire incident that occurred at an informal home near Trenance Park, in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
The observant neighbour
On Monday, 27 April, neighbours reported a structure engulfed in flames at around 11.08pm and notified members of Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) to assist with the fire.
According to Rusa, members of the public attempted to extinguish the blaze. However, the flames intensified rapidly, completely destroying the structure.
Father identifies son
Upon the reaction officers’ arrival on the scene, with flames and smoke filling the air, the officers made contact with the deceased’s father, who explained that he had last seen his son earlier in the day.
While the burnt structure was being investigated, the body of a 36-year-old man was recovered beneath the debris. Where the father positively identified the deceased as his son and confirmed that he lived on his own in the informal home, located a short distance away from where the father resides.
The cause of fire has not been established as yet.
Waterloo fire
Another informal home was also destroyed in a separate incident on Saturday, 25 April, on Picklepear Road (phase five), Waterloo, KZN
This comes after the owner left his home unattended to visit friends and returned to the smell of smoke and the debris of what had once been his belongings and home.
The reaction unit was called out around 6.33pm after receiving reports of a structure on fire.
Upon their arrival, the blaze had already swallowed up what was left of the informal home. According to the owner, he had left the structure earlier to meet friends and was later informed by members in the community that smoke was emitting from the property.
Community members also tried to eliminate the fire; however, because it had already spread so rapidly and could not be contained, the owners’ home was completely destroyed, along with clothing and other personal belongings.
Firefighters in the area ultimately responded to the scene and extinguished the bright orange blaze.
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