THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Mar 17 2010 04:52 | LAST UPDATED Mar 17 2010 04:52

ADVERTISE WITH US | CONTACT US | STORY TIP-OFFS | M&G NEWSLETTER

News \| National \| Environment

Wildfires rage in Cape

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA Feb 08 2010 15:49

0 comments | Post your comment

Wildfires continued to rage in the Southern Cape on Monday, with 180 veld and forest firefighters on the ground beating back flames at seven different blazes, authorities said.

The head of disaster management in the region, Gerhard Otto, said late on Monday afternoon that the fires had become worse rather than better.

"It's hot, it's dry, it's windy and there is just no relief in sight," he said.

The worst blaze was in Knysna, where firefighters were working to save homes and businesses.

The fire was burning in timber, fynbos and old grass.

"Just about anything that can burn is burning," said Otto.

In Plettenberg Bay, a similar fire was also threatening properties.

Helicopters from Working on Fire and the South African National Defence Force were water-bombing the blazes.

A disaster centre that could mobilise all emergency resources was opened in George on Monday morning.

CONTINUES BELOW

The teams on the ground were made up of firefighters from the Eden district municipality, South African National Parks, CapeNature, the Working on Fire Programme and other organisations.

Another 180 firefighters from Working on Fire's KwaZulu-Natal and Free State teams had begun arriving in the area to help.

According to Annelize Lamprecht, fire chief for Eden, there were also fires in the Haarlem area near George, in the Rheenendal area as well as two fires in Still Bay.

In the Boland, the Franschhoek Pass was closed to traffic on Monday morning because of a fire, and CapeNature warned motorists in a statement to stay clear of it.

It said the blaze, reportedly started by workers using an open fire to cook food, had burned about 4 800ha of the Jonkershoek and Hottentots Holland nature reserves over the last four days.

CapeNature's operations director, Fanie Bekker, said 160 firefighters from his organisation and the Cape Winelands district municipality had been called in.

By midday on Monday, the fire was approaching farms including Three Streams and Bordeaux.

Bekker said the hot weather and light wind meant thick smoke was covering the area, making it difficult for the helicopters to take to air.

"The cost implications are huge and have run into hundreds of thousands of rands, because of the extent of the fire," he said. -- Sapa

TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE

M&G Online Comment Guidelines In Brief

No hate speech;
No racist, sexist or homophobic remarks;
Keep it short;
Keep it on topic;
Show respect to all;
We reserve the right to remove or delete any comment without notice or reason.

Click here for the full Comment Guidelines

Advertising Links

Click hereÖ

Your M&G Online

Follow the Mail & Guardian on Twitter!

Direct message us on our mailandguardian account to chat to the M&G Online team.


		THIS WEEK'S PAPER Subscribe Subs promotions Get digital edition

Advertising links

OUDE MEESTER ONLINE CASINO INSURANCE JUNCTION PROPERTY FOR SALE INTERNET SOLUTIONS	MAP SEARCH HOLIDAY FINDER BID OR BUY INSURANCE QUOTE COMPAQ LAPTOPS

Wildfires rage in Cape

Tags

M&G Online Comment Guidelines In Brief

Your M&G Online

Advertisements

Advertising links