The Western Cape Departmnt of Local Government has offered its condolences to the family and friends of the fire-fighter who succumbed to his wounds in a George Hospital on Thursday.
The spokesperson for the Western Cape Department of Local Government, James Brent-Styan, says 24-year-old Bradley Richards was a volunteer firefighter who assisted firefighters in battling runaway fires in Knysna.
"The fireman was evacuated and taken to hospital yesterday (Thurs) with severe burn wounds to 70% of his body. Our thoughts go to the family, his colleagues and the team-mates. He said it is always a blow, something we do our best to avoid," he said.
Brent-Styan said the fireman's death brings the total death in the Cape storm and Garden Route fires to 10.
He said another fireman, who had assisted Richard and others in fighting the fire, also sustained burns to 50% of his body.
The injured fireman is still being treated in hospital.
Meanwhile, in Nelson Mandela Bay fire-fighters battled vegetation fires in Van Stadens Gorge, Bushbuckridge, Sardinia Bay, Rocklands and Victoria Drive.
The Metro said in its latest update that all the fires, except for Van Staden's Gorge, were brought under control.
Spokesperson, Mthubanzi Mniki, said there was "no major damage to property or injuries".
Officials are also investigating a claim that the fires may have been started deliberately.
