At 70 people left destitute after fire destroys 25 homes in Vrygrond
At least 70 people have been left destitute after a fire swept through Overcome Heights in the Vrygrond informal settlement on Tuesday morning.
A City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services fire engine. Picture: @CityofCT/X
CAPE TOWN - At least 70 people have been left destitute after a fire swept through Overcome Heights in the Vrygrond informal settlement on Tuesday morning.
The City of Cape Town's JP Smith said that firefighters were deployed immediately to assist in putting out the blaze.
He confirmed that 25 iron and wooden structures were destroyed by the fire.
Smith said that the city’s investment into smaller water tankers allowed firefighters to navigate through the narrow roads.
"The first crews arrived within 12 minutes of the call being reported and our firefighters immediately got to work containing the blaze and preventing the spread. Dealing with informal settlement fires it is imperative that we keep on supplying water to our firefighters on the front to better protect our residents."