By Thokozani Mazibuko
A 26-year-old woman of Sithobelweni was burnt to death inside her one-roomed flat at Sivivaneni, Nhlangano in the Shiselweni Region last Saturday.
Impeccable sources have revealed that the fire was sparked by an electrical fault whereby her pillows caught fire and set the flat ablaze.
“She tried to come out of the flat, but we suspect the smoke, and the flames overpowered her hence she was burnt to death inside her flat,” the source told Eswatini Daily News on Monday.
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“On 11/05/2024 at 2350 hours, a 26-year-old woman of Sithobelweni was burnt to death when a house she was sleeping in caught fire while at Sivivaneni,” read a Royal Eswatini Police report from the Deputy Police Information and Communication Officer, Assistant Superintended, Nosipho Mnguni.
According to the sources, the ENFRES was called into the home, but it was too late to save the life of the deceased.
The Eswatini National Fire Emergency and Rescue Services (ENFRES) in its programme which is aired on the National Radio has tutored the members of the public on what to do in the event a fire starts.
What you need to do when a fire starts
- Everyone in your house needs to know what to do if a fire occurs.
- If you hear a smoke alarm or discover a fire: try not to panic.
- Tell everyone in the house and use your pre-planned escape route to get everyone out of the building as quickly as possible. Use our escape plan tool.
- Smoke rises, so stay low or crawl on the floor in the cleaner air where it is easier to breathe.
- Do not stop collecting any valuables or possessions.
- Do not stop looking for pets.
If possible, close the door to the room where the fire is located and close all doors behind you as you leave (to delay the spread of fire and smoke).
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Before opening a closed door, touch it with the back of your hand; do not open it if it feels warm – the fire will be on the other side.
Do not go back into the building:
Find somewhere safe near the building and wait for the fire service to arrive and
If someone is still inside the building, tell the fire service and give details.
By going back into the building, you will prevent the fire service from doing what they need to do and put your own life at risk too.
