Knysna has been declared a disaster area following a special sitting of the Knysna Council on Friday afternoon.
Municipality spokesperson, Fran Kirsten, said mayor Eleanor Bouw-Spies, had already made the declaration but legislation required that it be first approved by Council.
"It was approved by Council and it is now official, said Kirsten.
She said Knysna has not only been declared a disaster in terms of the fire that has ravaged the town over the past few days but also in respect of its water supply which is now critically low.
Kirsten said that the Disaster Declaration allows them to "ask for funding to Province to pay for the air-force helicopters" used to water-bomb the flames and to also pay for any extra manpower coming in to help.
She said the declaration will also help to "streamline things quicker and people helping a lot faster" in terms of infrastructure needs in the town.
