A fire at Cissie Gool House in Woodstock has displaced 16 residents, many from vulnerable families, after it tore through the building in the early hours of Monday. While the cause is still under investigation, no injuries were reported.

City Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse confirmed that teams from Roeland Street, Sea Point, Salt River and Milnerton Fire Stations attended to the incident.

“The Fire and Rescue Service received the emergency call at 03:35 of a building alight in Mountain Road, Woodstock. Fire crews had to use the aerial resource as the fire burned through the roof.”

The blaze was contained and extinguished by 07:00.

Carelse said that significant damage, particularly to the first floor, was noted and that a building inspector has been called in to assess the structural safety of the premises.

Housing advocacy group Ndifuna Ukwazi said in a statement that emergency accommodation has been set up by Reclaim the City in communal halls.

The group is now calling for public support.

They are requesting donations of essential supplies, particularly for elderly residents. Items urgently needed include blankets, mattresses, pillows, toiletries such as soap and toothpaste, as well as gas and raw food for cooking.

Cash donations can be made to Reclaim the City via Standard Bank (Account No: 16-625-313-8, Branch Code: 020909) or Snapscan (https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/o75ghnLx) using the reference “FireAid”.

Donations in kind can also be delivered to Cissie Gool House, 77 Mountain Road, Woodstock. For further information, contact Denver Arendse on 067 150 7143 or Elaine Diedericks on 079 728 6513.