Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Reporter
A Hwange family has been left homeless after their house and property worth US$15 000 was destroyed by an inferno that gutted their Empumalanga suburb house on Sunday afternoon in a suspected case of arson.
According to the Hwange Local Board Fire Brigade, a distress call was received just after 2 pm on Sunday. When the crew arrived at the scene, the entire house was in flames, with only a few items having been removed. Meanwhile, neighbours had joined in trying to extinguish the fire using garden hoses.
“On July 19, 2025, at 1413 hours, HLB received a report of a house number 76 Empumalanga, near Zero complex. Red Lion fire truck responded at 1420 hours arriving at scene at 1422 hours. On arrival, a house was well alight. Few household property had already been taken out and neighbours were trying to extinguish the fire using garden hose,” reads the report.
The emergency teams used two high pressure hose reels to successfully extinguish the fire and no fatalities were recorded although one brigade crew member sustained a cut on the left hand from window glasses during the operation.
“Property worth an estimated US$15 000 was lost. These include bedding, clothing, sofas, documents, roofing sheets, household tubing and wiring. Preliminary investigations indicate arson as the suspected cause of the fire,” reads the fire brigade report.
HLB council chairperson Councillor Petersen Ncube expressed regret on the incident and appealed for assistance for the affected family.
“The recent fire incident is deeply regrettable. Our thoughts are with the family who lost their property in the blaze, and we share in their worry and distress,” said Clr Ncube.
He said the local authority recognizes the need to review and enhance its risk management systems, particularly with regard to fire outbreaks and going forward they will explore the feasibility of conducting random inspections on all properties, including residential ones to ensure compliance with power installation requirements.
“In the meantime, I appeal to kind-hearted individuals and organizations to extend support to the affected family, either in cash or in kind,” said Clr Ncube.
Bongani Ndlovu