The entire top floor of a new house in Sonkring in Brackenfell was destroyed in a fire that broke out due to an electrical short-circuit on Wednesday (30 November) evening.
The fire broke out in the upstairs main bedroom around 18:30.
“I was busy in the garage when the circuit breaker tripped. I tried to switch it back on, but it wouldn’t, and seconds later my wife shouted that there was smoke in the house,” says homeowner, David Kotze.
“My wife and two daughters ran out of the house while I attempted to get the hosepipe upstairs to extinguish the blaze. By the time I got upstairs it was too late, the entire room was already on fire and I had to run for my own life,” he says.
Two fire engines, a rescue vehicle and 12 fire fighters were dispatched from the Brackenfell and Bellville fire stations and arrived at the house within 15 minutes.
City fire chief, Theo Layne, said the fire was extinguished within an hour, but left four bedrooms and two bathrooms severely damaged.
He confirmed the cause of the fire to be an electrical short-circuit.
Kotze said they are still shell-shocked, but very thankful for the boundless support they have received from the community.
“We cannot thank you enough”.
