About seven families have been left displaced after a fire broke out at Cissie Gool House in Woodstock on Thursday 27 January.
Cissie Gool House, formerly known as the Woodstock Hospital, serves as a place of residence to hundreds of people in need of affordable housing.
Speaking on behalf of the residents, Buhle Booi, head of political organising at Ndifuna Ukwazi, a civic movement that fights for the fair distribution of basic services, says the fire broke out on the third floor.
“We are unsure what caused the fire. From that one unit the fire spread to seven other households. So, there are seven families that have been displaced. They are currently housed in the hall at Cissie Gool.”
Booi says the affected residents are appealing for donations.
“We are making arrangements for communal cooking so that the affected families can have something to eat. We are calling on the public to please donate food, blankets, nappies for kids and sanitary towels for women.”
He explains that donations can be dropped at the facility in Mountain Road.
Jermaine Carelse, fire and rescue service spokesperson, says fire crews were alerted at 18:53 of a building alight in Mountain Road.
He says crews from Salt River, Roeland Street and Epping were on the scene with five firefighting appliances, including the aerial appliance, and 19 firefighters.
“Damage includes but is not limited to three rooms on the third floor and the contents therein were severely damaged. Two rooms on the second floor and the contents therein were severely damaged. First and ground floor sustained water damage and damage to the roof was also incurred.”
Carelse says no injuries or fatalities were reported.
