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Ocean View families left homeless after devastating fire

What was meant to be a weekend of religious observance turned into a nightmare for three Ocean View families when their house was partially gutted by a fire on Good Friday. Martha Speelman said she and her family had just arrived at church when a neighbour called to say there was a fire on their property. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'We rushed back immediately and found the two bungalows in the backyard already gone and the back room of the house engulfed in flames,' she said. She said the family could only watch as the fire tore through their home. 'There wasn't anything we could do,' she said. Speelman said everything in the two bungalows and the back bedroom was destroyed. She said the three families who lived in the house, including an eight-month-old baby, were all sleeping in one bedroom as most of the house has smoke and water damage. 'It is very cramped and not ideal,' she said. A fire on Good Friday partially destroyed the home of a Capricorn Road family. City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said the fire in Capricorn Road was reported at around 8:20am. He said crews from Kommetjie, Fish Hoek and Simon's Town were on the scene and firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze after 9am. Most of the house and two informal structures were destroyed, along with another informal structure in Aries Way, he said. 'No persons were injured and the cause is yet to be determined,' he said. Following the fire, Ocean View residents Vasco Vigis and Zelda Nieuwoudt put out a plea to the community for essential items such as building materials, baby formula and nappies, Marine Primary School uniforms, food, bedding and toiletries. For a full list of items needed, contact Vigis at 081 549 7097.