Armed with recently acquired fire safety training, Kennedy Road Informal Settlement residents acted with courage to protect their community during a blaze.
Image: eThekwini Municipality
Residents of the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Ward 25 have been hailed as heroes after putting their fire safety training into practice to prevent a potential disaster this week.
While the settlement has historically been ravaged by fast-moving and often fatal infernos, the outcome of the latest blaze told a different story. Trained community members took on the role of first responders, containing the fire before emergency services arrived on the scene.
The fire, which erupted earlier this week, destroyed four structures and partially damaged two others. However, the destruction was limited thanks to the quick thinking of locals who participated in eThekwini Municipality’s fire safety and disaster risk reduction training last October.
One such resident, Linda Lloyd, described the experience as both terrifying and empowering.
"We saw the flames rising and knew we could not wait for help. The skills we learned kicked in immediately," Lloyd said.
Lloyd noted that the community formed response teams to tackle hotspots and guide families to safety, managing to control the fire without initial assistance from formal emergency services.
"If it were not for the training, this fire could have destroyed rows of homes. Today, we have families still alive and homes still standing," Lloyd added.
Last year, the Municipality’s Disaster Management and Fire Services Directorates, alongside the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Disaster Management Centre, trained 100 Kennedy Road residents.
The initiative was designed specifically to combat the frequent displacement and injuries the settlement has faced for years.
Ward 25 councillor Themba Mkhize praised the unity shown by the residents, noting the historical significance of their actions.
“This is the first time that Kennedy Road residents acted as first responders without relying on Fire or Disaster Management Services. Their actions prevented catastrophic destruction and potential loss of life,” Mkhize said.
Acting Divisional Commander Zwelethu Thusi commended the residents for their bravery and for proving that the skills imparted during the workshops are actively reducing damage.
Following the successful containment of the Kennedy Road fire, the eThekwini Municipality confirmed it is now exploring ways to expand this training to other high-risk informal settlements across the metro to ensure better-prepared neighbourhoods.
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