ZWG15 million worth of property burns in August

PROPERTY worth ZWG15 million was destroyed in Bulawayo and its surrounding areas in August alone, with a total of 146 fire incidents damaging homes, businesses, and open spaces that include unoccupied land in the eastern suburbs.

The Bulawayo Fire Brigade said of the 146 fire incidents that were recorded last month, 98 were grass or veld fires attributed to indiscriminate acts of starting fires by residents, either to burn garbage or dry vegetation after clearing pieces of land to make way for the construction of buildings.

Chief fire officer, Mr Mhlangano Moyo, said three incidents occurred outside of Bulawayo, which his teams of firefighters attended to.

“We attended to three fires that were reported from out of town, namely the Jamaica Inn fire and two veld fires in the Airport Road area. Since the beginning of the year, we have attended to more fires in August compared to any other month.

“The common denominator among the many fire incidents that we recorded last month is that residents start fires to burn garbage, which quickly spread out of control and destroy properties,” said Mr Moyo.

On August 25, Elephant Lodge, previously known as Jamaica Inn, about 40km outside Bulawayo along Gwanda Road, was destroyed by an inferno believed to have originated from a nearby veld fire.

The lodge, which has hosted the famous UB40 band, was engulfed by flames and when the Bulawayo Fire Brigade arrived at the scene, a large part of the premises had been consumed by the fire and nothing of value was salvaged.

Four fire tenders and 20 firefighters were deployed to the scene.
It was the second time the establishment was gutted by fire, following a similar incident in August last year.

A few days earlier, property worth an estimated US$500 000 was gutted by fire in Bulawayo’s leafy Burnside suburb, with the city’s fire brigade saying the blaze resulted from illegal and uncontrolled burning.

The owners of the house were said to be on holiday in Switzerland at the time of the fire. The fire reportedly started at stand number 244 Arnold Way, where occupants were clearing thickets in preparation for construction, but the flames quickly got out of control.

A distress call was made to the fire brigade and 35 firefighters, together with seven fire tenders, were deployed to the scene.
Household property and a car that was parked in the garage were destroyed.

Mr Moyo said 10 solar accessory-related incidents were also recorded in August, a 50 percent reduction from the same period last year.

“Last year in August, we recorded 20 cases of fires that were started by solar power-related products and we attribute the reduction to awareness campaigns that the Fire Brigade has been holding with residents to conscientise them on the proper handling of solar power products,” said Mr Moyo.

“We also appeal to residents to report fires on time instead of waiting for the blazes to get out of control before alerting the Fire Brigade.”

Meanwhile, the Fire Brigade has been given a thumbs up by residents of Qalisa Retirement Village after firefighters averted a fire disaster that could have caused damage at the old people’s home.

Last Saturday, a fire broke out in a vacant area next to Qalisa Retirement Village in Suburbs.
A call was made to the Fire Brigade around 11.30 AM and a firefighting team was quickly dispatched to contain the inferno.

“On behalf of the residents of Qalisa Retirement Village, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Bulawayo Fire Brigade for the prompt response to attending to the bush fire.

“Our residents are all elderly and some suffer from breathing difficulties. Your prompt action in getting the fire under control was a great value to those who suffer from breathing difficulties,” said Mr CF Pool, the estate manager.
Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart has said the Fire Brigade makes the city proud every week.

“Bulawayo Fire Brigade is quite remarkable and does us proud every week. Here is a letter I have just received from a local homeowners association — Qalisa retirement village, which speaks for itself.

“Thank you, siyabonga, to our magnificent Fire Brigade for their prompt, efficient, steadfast, brave and courageous work they do week in week out,” said Mayor Coltart.