KWANONQABA NEWS - One person died in a structure fire in the New Rest informal settlement in KwaNonqaba on Saturday 1 August.
The KwaNonqaba Police were called out to the scene at about 21:00 that evening. At that stage, the emergency medical services had already declared the person dead.
The victim, who was reportedly burnt beyond recognition, has not been identified yet. Determining their identity, as well as establishing the cause of the fire, forms part of an ongoing investigation.
However, past police reports indicate that unattended candles or other open flames cause accidental fires.
The spokesperson for the KwaNonqaba Police, Warrant Officer Kappie Kapp, appealed to residents to exercise caution when using open flames of any kind in their homes.
Fire safety tips
During May this year, the Mossel Bay Municipality shared these fire safety tips for informal settlements:
• Never leave candles burning unattended.
• Keep paraffin stoves and open flames away from bedding and clothing.
• Avoid illegal or unsafe electricity connections.
• Do not overload plugs or use damaged electrical cords.
• Keep water or sand nearby to put out small fires.
• Ensure children are supervised around open flames.
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