A fire broke out at a residence situated on Cheetah Avenue, Amajuba Park, Newcastle, on Wednesday afternoon, 14 February 2024.
As startled onlookers witnessed the unfolding chaos, an official source at the scene elaborated that while the exact cause of the fire remains unclear, initial suspicions point to lithium batteries, which had been charging near a bed in one of the bedrooms.
The homeowner recounted his reaction to the crisis, stating, “I immediately got my wife and daughter out of the house. But the firefighters took nearly 40 minutes to arrive on the scene,” expressing his astonishment. As a result, efforts were made to dampen the flames by using a hosepipe while awaiting the arrival of firefighter personnel.
Furthermore, paramedics from Magenta Emergency Medical Services were also present on-site to assist in case of any injuries. Fortunately, no casualties were reported during the inferno.
Upon the firefighters’ arrival, they tackled and extinguished the flames, however, the home did sustain substantial damage.
In the aftermath of the incident, Charles Steyn of Magenta Emergency Medical Services advised residents to exercise caution when charging batteries, highlighting the potential risks of fire incidents, particularly during loadshedding.
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