Quick action and strong community coordination helped prevent serious damage after a fire broke out in Smitsville on Tuesday.
The fire was reported by the Barrydale Fire Smart Group at 11:26.
Within minutes, volunteers were dispatched and emergency services alerted. Members of the Barrydale SAPS and the local fire department responded swiftly, helping to contain the blaze before it could spread.
“Thank you to Deon van Tonder and his team,” said Hannette Cooke, administrator of Barrydale Fire Smart. “Their response made a real difference.”
Cooke praised all volunteers involved, noting that this was the fifth fire reported this season. She added that plans are underway to roll out fundraisers aimed at improving firefighting equipment for volunteers.
She also appealed to residents to join the Fire Smart WhatsApp Group, which serves as a rapid communication tool during emergencies.
“It would be greatly appreciated if community leaders from Smitsville accept our invitation to join the Fire Smart group and assist with crowd control when incidents occur,” Cooke said.
Residents who would like to join this group can Whatsapp Bobby Jones on 072 289 9660 for more information.
Weavers Tackle In-house Fire
Meanwhile, a separate incident at Barrydale Hand Weavers was also brought under control on the same day. A fire broke out at the weaving facility at roughly the same time as the Smitsville incident.
Thanks to recent firefighting training conducted by the Hand Weavers’ staff, employees were able to respond immediately and contain the fire before it caused serious damage.
No injuries were reported in either incident.
