A family of seven is now homeless after a fire completely destroyed their house and household furnishings at about 10:30 Tuesday night, August 27. The two-flat timber house was located in Bootsville in the Fabers Road Extension area in Port Loyola. The family is now seeking public assistance.
Rose Williams, the owner of the house, told Amandala that about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, she was in the upper flat of her house watching television, when she smelled smoke and felt heat coming from the lower flat, which contained three rooms that were occupied by her children. When she looked outside, she saw fire coming from the lower flat and realized that her house was burning.
She and her daughter quickly rushed outside and went down to try to put out the fire, but it quickly spread out of control and the house became engulfed in flames.
Williams called the fire service, but the firemen took a while to get there. When they arrived at the scene, they quickly controlled the fire and prevented it from spreading to other buildings in the area. A house that was adjacent to the burning house almost caught fire due to the heat, but the flames were quickly extinguished.
Williams surmised that the fire service mistakenly went to Boots Crescent on Fabers Road instead of Bootsville on Fabers Road Extension, which led to the wasting of valuable time. As a result, her house and everything they owned were destroyed, including a motorcycle owned by her son, and her dog was killed.
Williams said that she is feeling pain in her lower back and two feet. She cannot recall if she fell down from the top of the stairs, or if she jumped down in the emergency of the moment. Her daughter reported that her right foot was swollen and a toe on her left foot was injured.
The house and its contents were not insured, and Williams now seeks public assistance. Williams said that she needs clothing, material to rebuild a house, household items and/or monetary donations to buy needed items. She or her daughter can be contacted at phone number 632-0501 or at the corner of Fabers Road Extension and Bootsville.