Johannesburg - A fire destroyed or damaged 76 houses in St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape, the Kouga municipality said on Monday morning. "The number of houses razed or damaged by Sunday's fire has been put at 76," spokesperson Laura-Leigh Randall said.
"Mop-up operations are underway. The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage but the [police’s] forensic unit will be investigating." It is suggested that it was caused by a braai. Earlier the Kouga municipality estimated over 100 houses were damaged. Randall said Eastern Cape Local Government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane was expected to arrive in St Francis Bay at 11:00 and then a briefing would take place in Humansdorp.
The fire started around 17:30 on Sunday at the Royal Wharf developments. Before midnight on Sunday night, the fire was half extinguished and not an immediate threat to other houses. Firefighters were sent home to sleep around 04:00 after the fire was extinguished. The flames were fanned by a strong westerly wind. Ten fire engines had been brought in and more were called from the Nelson Mandela Bay and Koukamma municipalities, Randall said. Firefighters from the Cacadu district municipality were at the scene monitoring the situation and checking for flare-ups, Randall said earlier.
Damage assessment was done on Monday. "[We are] busy finalising the report," she said. All residents in the area had been asked to evacuate, and a temporary joint operations centre had been set up at the local police station.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by this horrific tragedy.
~ Article courtesy of News24.com ~