The Department of Environmental Affairs' said its Working on Fire programme has had a busy week.
This, as it continued to provide wildland firefighting assistance to fire authorities, Fire Protection Associations and landowners in the Western and Eastern Cape.
In a statement Wednesday the Department said more than 200 fire fighters including fire- fighting aircraft have been kept busy at multiple fires in Pinehaven, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Baviaanskloof and Port Elizabeth.
“In the Eastern Cape the Baviaanskloof Fire, which started on Saturday, 03 December 2016, is ongoing with close to 100 WOF firefighters from the Jourbetina, Eden, Concordia and Uniondale Teams assisting the Southern Cape FPA. Over the past three days, WOF fire fighters from the West district in the Eastern Cape assisted in suppressing the Longmore, Koomanbos and Keurbooms Fires,” the WOF statement said.
“Currently at the Crags/Redford Road Fire there are close to 50 fire fighters from the WOF Eastern and Southern Cape assisting Southern Cape FPA, Provincial Disaster Management Centre, SANParks and Cape Pine. Aerial resources include two water bombers, two helicopters and a spotter plane, spending more than 20 flying hours and dropped more than 300 000 litres of water, committed to saving lives and protecting the environment.”
Other fires spread across the Southern Cape include: the Gondwana Fire in Riversdale is currently ongoing with the Riversdale Team assisting the SCFPA in an ongoing effort to contain the blaze.
“Close to 60 WOF fire fighters assisting partners such as Cape Nature, the Greater Overberg FPA and SCFPA, with mop up operations at the Botrivier, Grabouw and Knysna to ensure that no flare ups occur and that the area remains safe.”
