Wooden house gutted in fire

GEORGE NEWS - A wooden house in New Dawn Park was gutted in a fire this afternoon.

Lertitia Matthews was hanging up her washing at around 13:15 when she smelt smoke. Little did she realise that it was her own property that was burning.

The wooden bungalow attached to her mother’s house in Protea Street was completely destroyed.

“The only thing we could save was our Bible; the edges are burnt but the pages and the words are unspoiled.”

Her son Miashael (17), a Grade 12 learner at Outeniqua High School returned from an Evergreens rugby practice and was busy having something to eat when a neighbour came in asking if they were making a fire. “I went outside and saw the storeroom behind our house was on fire and the fire quickly spread. We tried in vain to put it out,” said Miashael.

“We lost everything including all the children’s school clothing and books. I will have to make a plan for Miashael and my daughters Amber (15) who is in Grade 10 at Outeniqua and Keren (8) who is at George South,” said Lertitia.

She told the George Herald that the fire brigade and municipal officials from the emergency housing department were on the scene quickly. “They have cleared away the rubble and will be erecting an emergency structure tomorrow.”

Southern Cape police spokesperson, Captain Malcolm Pojie said no foul play is expected, therefore no case has been opened: “The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.”