Occupants and dog escape Compassberg Street house fire

The occupants of a house in Compassberg Street, Komani, escaped unharmed after waking to find their home on fire on Thursday afternoon, 6 August 2026.

They managed to leave the burning house safely before anyone was injured. A dog was also rescued from the yard during the incident.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established, while the full extent of the damage to the property remains unclear.

A person who was at the scene raised concerns about the response of the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality’s fire service. The person, who asked not to be identified, alleged that firefighters took a long time to respond after assistance was requested.

The eyewitness further claimed that the firefighters were not adequately prepared when they arrived and experienced difficulties with their equipment.

“Their hoses were knotted. I’m quite embarrassed to say that’s our municipal firefighting. No wonder the houses are flattened before anything can be saved,” the person said.

Komani News has not independently confirmed the alleged delay or the reported difficulties involving the firefighting equipment.

The municipality has been asked to confirm when it received the emergency call, when firefighters arrived at the property and whether any equipment problems were experienced during the operation.

It has also been asked whether the cause of the fire has been determined and to provide details about the extent of the damage.

No response had been received from the municipality at the time of publication. This article will be updated once further verified information or an official response becomes available.