homebrewandbeer.com

KTC fire victims suspect brewer's negligence
A resident who left beer brewing unattended on open flames overnight is suspected of having caused a fire which raged through Nyanga's KTC settlement, killing a grandmother and her three grandchildren and leaving nearly 500 homeless.

The blaze started shortly after 3am on Tuesday while most of the residents were asleep and gutted 120 shacks.

Though many of them managed to escape the flames, a woman, believed to be in her sixties, and her grandchildren, aged 15, 18 and one in his twenties who was apparently wheelchair-bound, died in their shack.

The city's Disaster Risk Management Centre suspected brewing beer left unattended had caused the blaze.

Barely eight hours after it started hundreds of residents started sifting through the charred, smoking remains of their homes and some had even started rebuilding shelters.

Children played among burnt mattress springs and mounds of charred wood while others helped their parents try to salvage belongings which survived the flames.

Wearing her pyjamas and stamping on pieces of blackened corrugated iron, Ntobeko Nkonki, pointed to where the blaze started.

"I was sleeping when I heard screaming and shouting. I got up and when I looked outside I saw big flames and they were coming nearer. I was very scared. I tried to save some of my things but there wasn't enough time. Children and adults were running everywhere," she said.

Nkonki said residents who lived next door to the shack where the blaze started said they believed a resident who was brewing beer on open flames and who was not watching it may have caused the fire.

"We always tell the people to be careful when they brew home-made beer. We feared this. Now four people are dead. I used to see that lady and her grandchildren, one was in a wheelchair. Now I'm shocked. I lost everything but at least I have my life," she said.

Wilson Nqokombe shook his head as he hammered pieces of wood together.

"Everything is gone. I have no bed and no fridge," he said, his eyes red and watering from smoke and ash.

The city's Disaster Risk Management spokesperson, Wilfred Solomons, said although it was yet to be confirmed, it was suspected a resident had left beer brewing unattended and this had caused the fire.

He said it took 20 fire engines several hours to get the blaze under control in strong winds.

Meanwhile, another four fire engines were monitoring a mountain fire above Simon's Town which started the day before and had threatened to raze Da Gama Park houses.

The blaze was brought under control early on Tuesday.

Kevnlis wrote:At least my process hasn't ... killed anyone!

Kevnlis wrote:I don't understand... brewing beer on open flames for a full night? Perhaps I have been doing it wrong for all these years!

At least my process hasn't started and major fires yet, and it certain has not killed anyone! How terrible for them all, but especially the brewer!

ryan wrote:I`ll rephrase that- where was this place anyway?

ryan wrote:I`ll rephrase that- where was this place anyway?

ryan wrote:Golly- I hope it wasn`t Nelson Mandela?
Does anyone know if he brews?

Kevnlis wrote:

ryan wrote:I`ll rephrase that- where was this place anyway?

I believe it says Cape Town, so somewhere near there?

Trough Lolly wrote:Source: Independent Online - Cape Town SA

ryan wrote:oh rightyo.
just making sure you knew what you were talking about.

Chris wrote:How many times did they have to say that they thought is was the brewing of beer that started the fire? They sure wanted that point to be made!

Trough Lolly wrote: a gassed up keg might have made a decent fire extinguisher...