A 51-year-old Phoenix woman sustained serious burns to his face after a heating element allegedly fell onto clothing and caught fire as she was trying to warm water, earlier today.
The woman’s house was badly damaged when the fire spread.
Gareth Naidoo, spokesperson for KZN VIP Emergency Services, said when his team got to the scene, community members were attempting to extinguish the fire.
“The woman sustained facial burns and needed immediate medical attention. The response from the fire department and paramedics were swift and the fire was extinguished before spreading to neighboring homes. The female was stabilised before being transported to hospital for further medical attention,” he said.
Mark Nadesan, spokesperson for the Phoenix Community Policing Forum, urged residents to take extra precautions during winter, when they used appliances to heat water and for bathing and drinking.
He said since the start of winter, about seven homes caught alight in Phoenix. In most cases, he said the elderly were involved.
“People need to be more careful and use appliances carefully. They must make sure the appliances are switched off when they leave home. We urge people to check on their loved ones and educate them on how to use appliances safely and switch them off before they leave home."
Nadesan said residents needed to be wary of the water shortage in Phoenix, which posed an added risk as there was insufficient water to put out fires.
“Yesterday, there was a fire at a school and there was a shortage of water to put out the fire. If the fire brigade comes and there is no water, things can become disastrous. People need to be extra vigilant of the risks associated with fires,” he added.