An unknown number of informal settlement dwellers are displaced as scores of their homes burnt down in Pomona informal settlement, E.P Malan Street Pomona just outside Kempton Park, City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) yesterday.
CoE firefighters from Farrermere fire station as primary responders, received the call around 12H00 noon, and swiftly responded to the scene for intervention. On arrival, the entire settlement was at a very high risk of burning as strong winds fueled the flames, spreading them at a faster rate. Extra resources were activated to the scene from nearby fire stations, including Oliver Tambo Airport fire services. Huge carbon smoke was emitted and probably interfered with the normal airport operations in terms of landing and taking off of aircrafts as the incident was closer to the airport.
A fleet of ten fire engines was on scene to contain and battle the blaze. Scores of people, the residents, had to remove their belongings from the shacks that were at risk of burning. Four attack lines and monitors were used to extinguish the blaze from fire engines in attendance. Currently, it is unknown as to how many residents are displaced and how many shacks burnt. Challenges encountered on scene were the narrow access routes towards the center of informal where the origin of the blaze was. Crews had to connect very long lines of hoses of which impacted negatively because of pressure loss.
No casualties are recorded on scene because of the blaze, and the cause of the fire is still undetermined. Fire safety officers to conduct investigations. "CoE Disaster and Emergency Management Services would like to encourage and plead with residents to be extremely cautious when dealing with fire, not to put lives and properties at risk."