A lonely adult male, in his late sixties, was killed after his shack caught alight in Somalia Park informal Settlement near Vosloorus Ekurhuleni.
City of Ekurhuleni emergency services firefighters from Vosloorus, Zonkizizwe and Wadeville fire stations respectively, promptly responded to the scene for intervention after the call was received at 21:18 on wednesday (30th October).
Crews arrived on scene with a fleet of six fire engines. On arrival, a multi-roomed shack was well alight with some rooms already burnt to ashes. Fire suppression was initiated, contained and flames extinguished.
Search and rescue were conducted following the information on scene that an elderly person staying alone, was trapped inside the burnt shack. His charred body was found under the burnt rubble and was declared deceased by paramedics in attendance.
The South African Police Services (SAPS) officers arrived and scene was handed over to them for the removal of the body to an appropriate Pathological facility and investigations on the cause of the fire.