Bulawayo Family Loses Thousands Worth Of Belongings In House Fire

A Hillside family suffered significant losses when their rented home was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.

The incident at 1A Norfolk Road left the family without shelter and belongings, with emergency response delays exacerbating the situation.

Delayed Emergency Response Compounds Tragedy

According to Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mhlangano Moyo, the tenants awoke to find their roof already collapsing in flames.

“The family didn’t have emergency contact numbers readily available,” Moyo explained. “This critical delay meant valuable time was lost before firefighters could be alerted.”

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The distraught tenants, led by Nhlanhla Dube, first attempted to report the fire at Hillside Police Station, only to find the station’s phones non-functional. A neighbour eventually contacted Zimbabwe International Trade Fair personnel, who physically went to the Famona Fire Station to raise the alarm.

Bulawayo Family Suffers Losses In House Fire

Firefighters arrived to find the property completely gutted.

“The structure was fully engulfed when we received the call,” stated Officer Moyo. “By the time our teams reached the scene, the roof had already collapsed, making salvage operations impossible.”

Preliminary investigations suggest an electrical fault may have caused the blaze, though official findings are still pending. The incident has highlighted the importance of having emergency numbers memorised or prominently displayed in all households.

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Community Support Needed

Local authorities are urging community members to assist the displaced family as they begin rebuilding their lives. The fire serves as a stark reminder of how quickly disaster can strike and the importance of fire preparedness in residential areas.

Residents are advised to review their home fire safety measures, ensure working smoke detectors are installed, and keep emergency numbers accessible at all times to prevent similar tragedies.