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The Citizen
19-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
EMS says Alex blaze spread from shacks to recycling site
Johannesburg Emergency Services responded to a fire incident on Friday night in Marlboro, near 5th Avenue and Florence Moposho Street (commonly referred to as Vasco Da Gama Street) on the outskirts of Alexandra. EMS spokesperson Nana Radebe-Kgiba said they received a call shortly before 11pm, and a team was dispatched to the area. 'We did get a call last night around 22:52 and we responded to the call. The fire started where there were shacks, and it later spread to the recycling place,' she explained. Read more: Emergency services respond to overnight blaze in Marlboro While initial social media reports suggested multiple firms were affected, EMS has so far recorded damage to two structures. 'For now in terms of what we can record it is that it is two structures, because it is like a shop but it has shacks inside. So, we are not even sure of how many people stay there because they are not even allowed to stay in such a dwelling. But they managed to get out,' said Radebe-Kgiba. No injuries or fatalities were reported, and the cause of the fire remains undetermined. This incident adds to a string of recent fire outbreaks in Alexandra. In May, a fire tore through a bond house on 16th Avenue between Florence Moposho Street and Joe Nhlanhla Street (commonly referred to as John Brand), displacing at least five families. A month before, in April, another incident left three families displaced after fire gutted five rooms on 14th Avenue and Joe Nhlanhla Street. In response to the surge in winter fire incidents, Joburg EMS launched a Winter Fire Safety and Burns Prevention campaign in Alexandra on June 26, held at Marlboro Community Hall. The campaign highlighted risks associated with unattended heating, cooking appliances and illegal electrical connections. EMS also hosted a two-day Basic Fire and First Aid training session at Alexandra Fire Station to educate residents on emergency prevention and response. They continue to encourage the public to visit EMS BeSafe Centres for access to safety training and resources. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
10-06-2025
- Climate
- The South African
Cold weather brings unexpected snow and fire tragedies
Cold weather has gripped South Africa, with high-altitude regions experiencing snowfall and icy winds due to plunging temperatures engulfing the province. Three people in Johannesburg perished in the fires due to unsafe heating, turning the bitter weather into a deadly situation. Johannesburg's Emergency Management Services (EMS) spokesperson, Nana Radebe-Kgiba, told SABC NEWS that the deaths were connected to paraffin stoves and open-flame braziers. In just two months, Johannesburg has seen over 300 winter fire emergencies, and officials warn that the number could increase. The Weather Service has issued alerts for regions affected by the cold front. According to meteorologist Edward Engelbrecht, a low-pressure system is drawing sub-Antarctic air inland, making the colder weather worse. While urban areas, including Johannesburg, experience extreme frost and wind chill, mountainous regions are likely to experience snowfall. Several fires have broken out in Gauteng because of the cold weather. Most occurred in informal settlements where people use unsafe methods to heat their homes. Materials that catch fire easily and are unable to provide safe energy put communities at risk of death. At the same time, the cold front makes travelling dangerous all over South Africa. Officials are urging the nation to avoid nonessential travel and to put fire and road safety first. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
