NDLAMBE firefighters battled a raging fire at a home at 24 Becker Street last night, September 28.
From early this morning, Ndlambe Fire Department was back on the scene to ensure that no smouldering embers lay dormant within the remains of the house.
Most of the structure did not survive the fire and what is left is a burnt out shell of the home.
The tenants and their cat are safe, and were taken to hospital for the night where they were treated for shock.
According to the owner of the property, the tenants had turned on a small gas heater, for which they had purchased a new gas bottle yesterday, and the gas bottle exploded, causing the fire. The explosion occurred just before 6 p.m last night and within half an hour flames ravaged through the house
Port Alfred community members have rallied together and secured a furnished home for the family to move into today, as they lost everything but their vehicles in the fire. The tenants were unable to save any personal belongings before fleeing, said the property owner.
According to the owner of the home, the fire and emergency services were called at 6.05 p.m. Witnesses said the local fire department had been busy fighting another fire so could only send a bakkie until their truck arrived at around 6:30pm, at which point the home had already been engulfed in flames. Police were already on the scene.
Community members rallied together to help rescue the vehicles.
This is a developing story. See TotT for further updates as available.
