Two families in the northern Free State now have to pick up the pieces after they had to watch their house burn down as the municipal fire truck was allegedly without water.

It's understood that on Tuesday (21/11) residents at 11 Watermeyer Street, Jan Cillierpark, watched their house burn after a fire brigade showed up at the burning house twice with an empty fire truck. 

Another family experienced the same fate at 55 Erleigh Boulevard in Odendaalsrus on 27 November 2023 when a fire truck showed up with a half tank and the private company Hazquip helped extinguish the fire.

Fire damaged a house as the fire brigade showed up twice with an empty fire truck. Photo supplied

Matjhabeng DA caucus leader Igor Scheurkogel said the Municipal Manager told the council that a huge percentage of the community does not have adequate access to fire and emergency services. This is after stating that the current level of fire services and staff stands at at least 70%.

Scheurkogel said the MM's response to the council clearly showed that if you do not have medical aid or finances to contact private service providers you will not be helped. He further said the mismanagement of funds in Matjhabeng has resulted in the Vaal Central Water board cutting off water nightly, leaving the fire department without much-needed water to fight fires. It is understood that ward councillor René Steyn has been working around the clock to collect food and other items to assist the affected families.

OFM News previously reported on the lives which were lost in Matjhabeng as a result of not having enough vehicles in the firefighting fleet.

The fire brigade showed up at the burning house twice with an empty fire truck. Photo supplied

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi Corné