Fire of unknown origin completely destroyed a two-bedroom house at Vryheid, West Canje around 10:30 yesterday morning leaving a family of five homeless.

Fifty-five-year-old Avril Johnson who had been renting the house since last December said she was unable to save anything. 

The woman said the building was “reasonably furnished” but was unable to estimate her loss. She was, however thankful to be alive while acknowledging that “God is great!”

Johnson said she had just finished doing laundry and was cleaning her stairs when she heard items in the house falling.

Thinking her three-year-old granddaughter, Oneisa was up to mischief, she called out to her but the toddler responded that she had not done anything.

Upon checking the woman observed fire coming from her back stairway. She said she grabbed the child and fled to a neighbour’s house to safety. Also living in the house with Johnson was her daughter and a son who works at Monty Bovell’s Construction and another grandchild. 

She pointed out that the building did not have electricity but she had expected to benefit from the service by the end of the month.

Meanwhile the New Amsterdam Fire Service responded quickly and was able to contain the blaze around 11:05 am. An official from the tender related that water from their 400-gallon tank was used up during the blaze but they managed to access water from nearby trenches.