adminMichael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
A SIX-YEAR-OLD boy played with matches and started a fire that gutted a house in Kwekwe’s Gaika Park and destroyed property and other valuables worth an estimated $20 000.
No one was injured in the Wednesday inferno.
The family also lost documents like national identification cards, birth certificates, educational and professional certificates. The boy’s mother Mrs Ellen Chipangura was, however, ferried to Topomas Clinic where she is reportedly in a stable condition after she collapsed upon receiving the news.
When The Chronicle arrived at the scene, fire fighters were still battling to contain the fire.
Fungai Moyo, the maid who was at home with the toddler when the mishap occurred said the fire started at around 2:20PM when the house owner, Mr Walker Chipangura and his wife were at work. “I was in the kitchen when the fire was started. He just came to me and asked for a cup of water,” said Moyo.
Moyo said the boy bolted out of the house after he realised he could not contain the fire by himself.
“I saw billowing smoke when I tried to inquire why he was running away from his bedroom. I tried to put out the fire using a hosepipe but failed,” she said.
Moyo said she only got assistance from passersby who called the fire brigade.
She said passersby removed Mr Chipangura’s vehicle, a Mitsubishi Pajero, which was parked just next to the bedroom. “They had to break the window of the car and push it away otherwise it could have been reduced to ashes as well,” she said.
Acting Kwekwe Chief Fire Officer Mr Calbert Ziwakaya said the family lost property worth an estimated $20 000. “The fire destroyed two bedrooms, part of the kitchen, part of the sitting room, toilet and pantry,” he said.
He said had it not been for Moyo’s quick response, the fire was going to do more damage.
“We appreciate the effort put by the maid otherwise it could have been worse than this. Her quick reaction helped us to contain the fire before it spread to other rooms,” said Mr Ziwakaya.
He urged parents and guardians to continually monitor their children’s movements.
Online Reporter