After a fire set by an arsonist raged on Table Mountain on Tuesday, several other fires have blazed within the Mother City.
A dwelling in Woodstock went up in flames in the early hours of Wednesday morning, killing a baby girl.
According to the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, Theo Layne, the dwelling was a wooden Wendy house. “The City’s Fire and Rescue Services responded to Pine Road at around 1.53am this morning,” Layne said in a statement. “One female infant, who is around eight months old sustained fatal burns.”
According to Colonel André Traut, a spokesperson of the South African Police Services, the cause of the fire is yet to be determined. “SAPS has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire,” he said. “However, the cause of the fire is still unknown”.
Another fire claimed the life of an elderly woman in Green Point on Wednesday afternoon.
“At 12.40pm on Wednesday afternoon, the City’s Fire and Rescue Services responded to a fire on Merriman Road in Green Point,” Layne said. “As a result of the fire, one elderly female sustained fatal wounds.”
According to Captain FC van Wyk, a spokesperson of SAPS, an investigation is being conducted to determine the cause of the fire. “The cause of the fire is still undetermined,” van Wyk said in a statement. “SAPS is investigating the matter.”
Layne urges home owners to be vigilant and to avoid fire hazards at all costs, especially where young children and the elderly are concerned. “There have been several reports of fires in and around the city recently,” he said. “Home owners must make sure to keep all fire hazards minimized. Do not leave things like lighters or matches laying about, especially in households where paraffin is used for light or candles are burned. A small flame can result in a home burning down.”
For any queries on fire safety, contact Laeticia Paulsen from the City’s Fire and Rescue Services on 021 590 1702 or [email protected].
To report any fire emergencies, dial 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.
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