It has not been a Happy New Year for hundreds of people living in informal settlements in Cape Town as fires ravaged through a number of areas, killing four people.

A blaze in Du Noon on Friday 30 December destroyed 106 structures, and 233 people have been affected.

The City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services dispatched firefighters from Milnerton fire station just before noon on Friday.

City Law Enforcement were also requested to assist with crowd control when some members of the public attempted to disrupt the operations of the firefighters.

More than 60 fire fighters were utilising 16 firefighting appliances to contain the blaze in Usasaza Street, Du Noon.

Firefighting efforts were severely hampered by the structures built up closely to each other and many of which was double stories, making it difficult for Fire vehicles to maneuver as the space was congested.

No fatalities were recorded but two firefighters sustained injuries with one sustaining minor burn wounds to his hand which were treated at the scene, not requiring hospitalisation, while the second had to be transported for medical care.

The Gift of the Givers and SASSA are providing humanitarian assistance, while the provincial Department of Social Development has been activated to provide psycho-social support services.

Meanwhile, a woman sustained fatal burn wounds when a fire swept through the Phola Park Informal Settlement, in Philippi, on Sunday January 1.

The City’s Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to the fire at 2.40am , with reports indicating that structures were on fire off Rochester Road.

Several crews were dispatched and the first arriving Officer confirmed that numerous structures were burning.

A total of 12 firefighting appliances and more than 50 staff battled the blaze which was brought under control at about 6am.

The body of the woman who died, was found among the debris, and it is estimated that more than 200 structures were destroyed, leaving hundreds of people homeless.

In Masiphumelele, three people died in an early morning fire on Saturday December 31.

The City’s Fire and Rescue Service was alerted just after 2am that structures were burning in Sobukwe Road.

Crews from Kommetjie fire station we’re the first to be dispatched and from a distance could see the raging flames and immediately called for additional support. In total there were 6 fire engines and 3 water tankers on the scene as well as more than 40 staff.

The bodies of the 2 men and a woman, who had sustained fatal burn wounds, were found among the debris around 5am.