Some residents of Dobsonville and Meadowlands in Soweto, saw a huge cloud of smoke coming from a Westerly direction yesterday afternoon.
Muzi Mkhwanazi, Spokesperson of Pikitup, said there is no fire at a nearby suspected source, the Refuse Drop off in Roodepoort.
Where could the smoke have come from?
This week, the City of Johannesburg Emergency Services’ Public Information Education and Relations Unit (PIER), launched a Winter Fire Campaign, this week, to discourage the making of ad hoc fires.
Xolile Khumalo, Media Liaison Officer, of the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS), said the Winter Fire Safety and Burns Prevention campaign is a response to the rise in fire incidents in winter.
“The campaign aims to educate residents on fire safety and precautionary measures to take in case of a fire” said Khumalo.
Khumalo also said most fire incidents occur due to various unattended heating and cooking appliances, braziers (imbawula) and illegal electricity connections.
Officials in the City have roped in several townships, to be part of the campaign, including residents of Alexandra, Zandspruit, Kya Sands, Thabo Mbeki Informal Settlement, Booysens, Vukani Informal Settlements and George Goch.
The campaign is aimed at educating the residents of Johannesburg about the dangers of neglecting lighting and heating appliances, candles, cooking on open fire, braziers (imbawula) and illegal connections.
The City said residents must get smoke and heat alarms and place these around the house.
Khumalo said households should have a fire escape plan.
The City of Joburg Fire Stations BESAFE Centres are open to residents and provide basic firefighting and first aid training, for free.
EMS contact numbers: (011) 375 5911 or toll-free number 107 or 112.
Picture: EN365 photographer, Legislate Khovani