Authorities closed the N2 between Plettenberg Bay and Knysna on Wednesday morning as a result of a massive fire burning close to the national road.
The fire in the Kruisfontein plantation is being fanned by gail force winds and according to the Eden District Municipality one house in Wilderness was destroyed while 13 others were evacuated.
Disaster Management spokesperson, Gerard Otto, said that they had received severe weather warnings from the SA Weather Office indicating that they could expect gale force winds in the Eden District.
"We had received reports of many fires in our district including one at the Kruisfontein plantation near the N2 outside Knysna is our major concern at this point in time. We had to close the N2 so nobody will be able to travel between Knysna and Plett at least for the next 5 to 8 hours because of concern about visibility on the N2," Otto said earlier Wednesday morning.
According to a situation report from the District Municipality the "fire in the plantation was completely out of control" while another property on the N2 side of Touw River was also lost in the fire".
A fire burning in the mountains is posing "no threat at this time".
Knysna Municipality spokesperson, Fran Kirsten, said that there were also two other fires raging in the Karatara/Sedgefield area. "We are trying our best to manage with our limited resources," she said.
George Municipality meanwhile, activated its disaster management plan as high winds blew the roofs off more than a dozen informal structures and trees and branches were blown onto roads.
Municipality spokesperson, Chantelle Edward-Klose, said that power outages were also reported in Thembalethu, Wilderness Heights, Parkdene and the industrial area in George.
She said George fire-fighters are also battling veldfires in Hoekwil, Serpentine Heights and another fire at Touwsranten
Edward-Klose said that a total of 26 fires have been dealt with by George Fire Brigade.
Pic: Supplied. Note: Story will be updated during the course of Weds)
