Power surge sparks a fiery result
WESTDENE – A residence in Westdene burnt after a power surge ensued.
A women escaped unharmed from a house that was engulfed in flames when a power distribution board reportedly shorted and sparked a fire in the late afternoon of 11 December in Westdene.
Resident and member of the Westdene Community Policing Forum Frikkie Botes said the power trip and shorting was due to a previously experienced power surge, which occurred on 8 December.
These surges, according to Botes, destroyed a host of different electronic appliances and light fixtures in surrounding homes.
A witness who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “The whole garage was burning with the fire spreading all the way to the kitchen”.
Brixton firefighters reported to the scene and proceeded to put out the fire.
Westdene and Sophiatown community patrollers and a trauma councillor were also on scene to offer assistance.
No serious injuries or casualties were reported.
Botes said it’s tragic that something like this had to happen.
“The Westdene area has been having a lot of power surges due to cable theft and constant maintenance done on the cables in the area,” he said
City Power was unavailable for comment at the time of publishing.
