Another family have been left destitute by an electrical fire caused by a power surge.
Following the Saturday 25 February 02:00 to 04:00 load shedding block in Tafelsig, disaster struck Frederick and Vivienne Majiet who was asleep when a power surge caused the plug point in another room to blow.
The house was quickly engulfed in flames, with the Majiets trapped inside.
“We were asleep, we didn’t even know the house is on fire. My daughter came to tell us the rooms are on fire,” says Vivienne.
“We were trapped inside. We couldn’t find the keys. When the plug blew the electricity immediately went out. The house was full of smoke. It was dark. I smashed the window to help ventilation,” says Frederick.
With burglar bars blocking their escape, it was God’s hand that helped them, they say, able to escape before succumbing to the flames themselves.
No fatalities were reported, with Vivienne sustaining burn wounds to her face and arms.
Neighbour’s rushed to their aid, helping to extinguish the blaze.
Ward 82 councillor, Washiela Harris says because the house is City rental stock, insurance will rebuild the structure. The process is underway.
“The City advises residents to switch off their electricity completely when they know there is going to be load shedding and switch it back on when power is restored to avoid surges,” she says.
This is the third instance of residential fire caused by a power surge in the ward in a month, she says.
Read the full story in the next edition of People’s Post, on Tuesday (7 March).
