As the community of St Francis struggles to come to terms with the effects of the huge fire that devastated 76 homes in the village over the weekend, real estate group Chas Everitt International has put up R30 000 to boost the Friends of St Francis Fire fund and provide better equipment and training for the local volunteer fire company.
“Our volunteer firemen under the direction of Keith Donaldson, along with the local NSRI members, did an exceptional job in helping to fight Sunday’s blaze and get it under control without any loss of life or serious injury,” says local Chas Everitt franchisee John Cooper.
“We are proud of all of them and very grateful to Keith and his volunteers for all the work they do and the sacrifices they make to help and protect this community, which doesn’t have a municipal fire or rescue service.
“They are real heroes but they don’t even have proper protective gear such as masks and boots let alone enough equipment, so we are donating R30 000 and asking other local businesses to contribute too, to help keep them safe while they are unselfishly helping others .”
Meanwhile, he says, his agency has been working non-stop to contact and update the owners of the homes in its rental portfolio – many of whom don’t live in St Francis – as well as the holidaymakers who had already paid deposits to rent some of the destroyed houses during the coming season.
“And I am very happy to say that although we offered to refund them their deposits, every one we contacted so far has said they are determined to still come to St Francis and asked us to try to find them alternative rental accommodation.”
Trust account details:
(Albert Saunders Attorneys Trust Account
Account number 281401551, Standard Bank, Humansdorp Branch, 050015)
Issued by Chas Everitt Intenrational
