Some residents turn on firefighters battling Cape Town blaze
29 August 2017
Cape Town - Cape Town firefighters were forced to withdraw briefly from a blaze raging in Rylands after some residents turned on them on Tuesday.
"We have got no idea what made the crowd so volatile," said City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue spokesperson Theo Layne, describing the frightening events during a blaze at Pooke se Bos informal settlement.
One man died in the fire in the settlement between Bonteheuwel and Athlone, east of Cape Town, and 52 dwellings were gutted. At least 127 people have been displaced and are relying on food and bedding donated by a local foundation.
However, the death toll may have been worse if the situation had not calmed down enough to allow the 36 firefighters in nine fire vehicles to return, warned Layne.