Over 200 structures destroyed in Du Noon informal settlement fire

Firefighters in the City of Cape Town have responded to two fire incidents on Christmas morning. The City’s Fire Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse says that over 200 structures have been destroyed in the Ekuphumeleni informal settlement in Du Noon.

He says that hundreds of residents have been displaced. One person is being treated for burn wounds.

Carelse says that no injuries have been reported in the second blaze at Nomzamo in the Strand, where seven structures have burnt down. The causes of the fires are unknown.

“We received multiple calls of informal structures alighting in Ekuphumleni informal settlement in Dunoon. More than 15 frontline fire engines and water tankers with over 70 staff were on the scene from various fire stations as the strong wind made firefighting efforts challenging. Firefighters contained the blaze that has razed over 200 informal structures and left hundreds displaced, according to our initial estimates. Firefighters are still on the scene dampening down. Reports were received of informal structures alighting in Freedom Informal in Nomzamo, Strand. Crews from Strand, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Macassar, and Landsdwone were dispatched, and by 05:30 firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze.”

Support for fire victims

Gift of the Givers teams will be assisting fire victims of 2 informal settlements that caught alight. The GOTG team received the first call at 03h37 from Du Noon and 04h53am from Richmond Street Du Noon.

They are engaging with community leaders, and setting up distribution points to assist the fire victims.

IN PICTURES | Burned down shacks at the informal settlements

CREDIT: Gift of the Givers