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The government-funded Working on Fire had their hands full on Thursday, responding to 55 fires in different parts of the country.
Spokesperson, Linton Rensburg, says more than 1000 Working On Fire fire fighters, together with 13 spotter aircraft, 19 fixed wing water bombers and 8 helicopter bombers managed to bring 30 of these fires under control by nightfall.
He says there were five civilian fatalities, including a 1 month old baby, which was reported from the Harrismith fire in the Free State.
Rensburg says it was one of their busiest days with a big blaze still raging in Kruger National Park.
"All the 24 Working on Fire Teams in Mpumalanga were deployed at various fires in the province yesterday. Two Working on Fire teams were deployed at the Harrismith and two teams at the Ficksburg fires. 1 spotter aircraft, 1 chopper and 7 teams were deployed at 6 fires in the Eastern Cape. Five (5) teams, 1 spotter aircraft and 1 helicopter were deployed at 7 fires in Limpopo. Fifteen teams, 1 spotter aircraft and 1 bomber were deployed at 18 fires in KwaZulu Natal yesterday. 5 teams were deployed at 5 fires in Gauteng on Thursday," Rensburg said.
However, Rensburg says Working On Fire does not do it all alone, but relies on partnerships.
"We work obviously very closely with all the various Fire Protection Associations across the country, landowners like your SanParks and your Cape Nature in the Western Cape. So, we obviously rely on partnerships with these Fire Protection Associations throughout the country." said Rensburg.
The MD of Working on Fire, Mr. Trevor Abrahams reported that “South Africa is currently experiencing the worst winter fire season in seven years with the Working on Fire programme having had to attend over 2,000 fires since June this year”.
