Mom, dad and 3 kids die in powerful blaze

‘Fire was so big, we knew they wouldn’t survive’

CHARRED wood and iron remains are all that is left of the Theron and Fisher household which was gutted by a fire at the Pholile informal settlement in Nomzamo, Strand.

Relatives say the fire was “so big we knew they wouldn’t survive”. Mercia Fish, 25, her 35- year- old husband Christopher Theron and their three children, 10-year-old Michelle, seven- year- old Chrizette and nine-month-old CJ Mark were all trapped in their three-room shack as the fire raged through their home early yesterday morning.

Fish was also four months pregnant. Her mother, Sharon Fish, 56, told Weekend Argus her daughter “came home very excited the other day and said she was going to have another baby and it was a boy”.

Mercia’s sister, Veronica Papier, said Michelle died “at the security gate. She must have been trying to escape but the fire was too much for her; she died right there and my sister and the baby were still in the bed,” said the sobbing 35 year old.

Hanna Theron, 63, could not hold back the tears. “I saw my son’s body all burnt up from the head down,” she cried. “How could something this terrible happen to one family, they were happy and loving people and now their three-year-old is left with no parents,” said Theron.

Though, the cause of the fire is not yet known, community members and a ward councillor blamed newly- elected minimayor Anda Ntsodo..

Ward councillor Jongindumo Maxeke told the Weekend Argus that the area was meant to to have been “upgraded years ago. Plans to build roads, install electricity, water and toilets were approved but Maxeke claimed Ntsodo and his office have been playing dirty political delay tactics.

“It is not easy for firefighters to get into this area, the fire engines were quick to respond but because of lack of proper roads, could not get to the site on time to save the family,” he said.

Ntsodo disputed claims that his office was delaying development. He said all the projects were on track.

Ntsodo said the city was in the process of ensuring informal settlement dwellings were better spaced to allow movement of emergency service vehicles and to prevent the spread of fires.

“I am very saddened by the deaths. I have organised for counselling for the family members who survived. The city has issued building material and relief- in- aid in the form of food and blankets,” Ntsodo said.

City’s fire and rescue services spokesperson Liezl Moodie said the cause of the fire had yet to be determined.

“Six fire- fighting vehicles responded. Five people sustained fatal burns. One male, one female, two minor females and one male infant died. Five wood and iron structures were destroyed and 18 people were displaced,” Moodie said.

PICTURES: JASON BOUD Hanna Theron, mother of Christopher Theron who died in the Nomzamo informal settlement fire, had to be assisted after becoming distraught at the scene.

Shocked residents of the Pholile informal settlement assess the damage caused by the blaze.