 | Paarl fire claims woman's lifePaarl fire claims woman's life
11 December 2017 | Press Releases |
Media Release
Paarl fire claims woman’s life
11 December 2017
A woman died in hospital after suffering injuries in a fire that broke out early on Sunday morning (10 December 2017) in the Paarl East neighbourhood of Chicago, while a man is in a serious condition. Another woman is also in hospital with minor injuries as a result of the fire which left 270 people homeless, destroyed 14 housing units and 42 informal structures, and damaged a further three housing units.
“We sincerely regret this loss of life and extend our heartfelt sympathy to the families involved,” says Councillor Rean Smuts, Acting Mayor of Drakenstein Municipality.
In the meanwhile Drakenstein Municipality is providing the homeless, including children of various ages, with temporary shelter in the Thusong Centre in Paarl East. Once the affected area in Chicago has been cleared of all rubble and debris, the Municipality will assist the homeless with rudimentary housing units (or starter kits), as well as other items they will need to build new homes.
“Electricity has already been restored to sections in Chicago where it is deemed safe. However, we couldn’t restore electricity yet to sections such as the Grysbok Flats and Spooky Square which have been hit the hardest by the fire. These areas are still regarded as ‘electrically unsafe’ and have been isolated from our other electricity networks. We want to avoid further fires at all costs,” says Acting Mayor Smuts.
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Disaster relief efforts are underway at the Thusong Centre. SA Red Cross is providing the homeless with brunch and supper, while Drakenstein Municipality is ensuring that healthcare and medical services, fresh water, social support, security and cleaning services are provided at the centre. The Municipality’s Law Enforcement Department is also protecting the homeless’ goods and assets in Chicago.
Members of the public and organisations are encouraged to donate different sizes of nappies, different types of milk formula, shoes, new underwear, sanitary ware, toiletries (such as soap, facecloths and deodorant), water and non-perishable food, and deliver these to the Drakenstein Fire Department, Berg River Boulevard, Paarl. The department is open 24/7.
An investigation has been launched into the fire which broke out in Chicago around 2:00 on Sunday morning (10 December 2017). The Drakenstein Fire Department - together with the fire services departments of the Cape Winelands and Stellenbosch Municipalities, and the City of Cape Town, as well as the Drakenstein Farm Watch - managed to bring this fire under control, as well as another runaway fire at a Wellington farm despite yesterday’s strong wind. The South African Police Service and Drakenstein Municipality’s Electricity Services Department rendered logistical support. No one was injured as a result of the Wellington fire.
“We want to thank our government partners for playing a crucial role in bringing the raging fires under control, as well as all the businesses, organisations, agencies and individuals who have already made contributions or rendered their assistance,” says Acting Mayor Smuts.
Anyone with information on possible causes of the fires is asked to call Drakenstein Municipality’s Reporting Hotline Number, 0800 428 429, or send an email to drakenstein@report-it.co.za.
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Issued by:
Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
For more information and media enquiries, contact:
Riana Geldenhuys, Manager: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality, on
021 807 6390, 082 460 5554 or rianag@drakenstein.gov.za.
