Three children aged two, five and seven are among four people who died after a devastating fire tore through an informal settlement in Germiston on Thursday evening, destroying 12 shacks and leaving families facing the aftermath of the tragedy.
The fourth victim was an adult whose age had not been established at the time of the incident.
The fire broke out at Marathon Informal Settlement on October 8, with emergency services receiving a call at approximately 8.37 pm.
Firefighters from Primrose, Bedfordview and Edenvale fire stations responded to the blaze, but the devastation had already unfolded by the time crews began their operations.
According to Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services spokesperson William Ntladi, community members were desperately trying to contain the flames using buckets of water to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring structures.
“On arrival, it was found that community members were desperately battling the blaze using the buckets brigade system to prevent fire spread to neighbouring structures,” Ntladi said.
He said firefighters from Primrose were the first to arrive, followed by teams from Bedfordview and Edenvale.
After assessing the scene, the crews focused on protecting surrounding structures before launching their firefighting operation.
Two attack hose lines were used to extinguish the flames.
However, as information emerged that people might have been trapped inside one of the burning shacks, emergency personnel began search, rescue and recovery operations.
The operation ended in tragedy when four bodies were discovered beneath the burnt rubble.
“All four were declared dead on scene by paramedics,” Ntladi said.
The deaths of the three young children have added to the devastation caused by the fire, which reduced 12 shacks to ashes and left the settlement grappling with the loss of life.
The circumstances surrounding how the victims became trapped inside the structures had not been established.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) took over the scene to begin investigations into the incident.
Police were also responsible for the rehabilitation of the scene and the removal of the deceased to an appropriate pathological facility in Germiston.
The cause of the fire remains unknown and is under investigation.
Authorities have not yet established what triggered the blaze or whether any other factors contributed to the deaths.
Informal settlements can be particularly vulnerable when fires spread between closely packed structures, making it difficult for residents to contain flames before emergency services arrive.
In Marathon Informal Settlement, community members attempted to fight the fire themselves while waiting for assistance, but the blaze ultimately destroyed a dozen shacks.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the devastating consequences of informal settlement fires, particularly for children and other vulnerable residents who may struggle to escape when flames engulf their homes.
For the families who lost loved ones, the immediate concern is now the recovery of the deceased, while investigators work to establish exactly what happened on Thursday night.
Police investigations into the cause of the fire are continuing.
