More than 200 homeless as 45 Plastic View shacks in Pretoria, catch fire

Lerato Mbhiza

Two-hundred-and-fifty people lost their homes and personal belongings after 45 shacks were destroyed by fire in Plastic View informal settlement in the East of Pretoria over the weekend.

According to the City of Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson, Charles Mabaso, one patient was treated for smoke inhalation and moderate injuries and three were treated on the scene for minor injuries but refused transport to hospital.

“Emergency services responded to the scene after 04:33 and arrived on the scene to find multiple shacks on fire, and immediately started with firefighting operations, while protecting scores of unburned shacks from being affected.”

Mabaso said the fire was contained and subsequently extinguished. The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage.

He said the emergency services will intensify public awareness campaigns at this informal settlement as part of continuous education to the community on fire safety and disaster risk reduction.

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