Residents of Lorraine, Port Elizabeth, came together as veld fires threatened to burn their houses on Monday.
Local resident Paul Gamble who lives in Langeberg Street, Lorraine, which was close to some of the fiercest bush fires, says there was an incredible sense of community camaraderie in the face of frightening crisis.
Gamble says he still can't believe he and his neighbours survived the fire unscathed
He said the Lorraine neighbourhood watch was especially incredible, “They came and helped us evacuate our kids and our possessions.”
He added, “The fire services are trying to contain it and I think we are just trying to clean up and just get back to life."
Gamble said they have received a lot of visitors since then but he us thankful that nobody was hurt and their houses are still intact.
Tanika Claassen, whose parents own the LaColline wedding venue, says the venue came very close to burning down. "We are just so grateful that the Lord protected us. We stood and watched from the road and thought it was all over, to be honest. There must have been some angels standing on the roof guarding LaColine. The fire moved right up to the wall alongside the kitchen but incredibly the venue sustained no damage. We are so relieved and grateful that we were spared this fire."
The Port Elizabeth fire department was continuing with dampening down operations on Tuesday following Monday’s devastating bush fires which destroyed a thatched roof house and led to the evacuation of dozens of homes and a frail care centre.
The Metro's entire fire-fighting force was out until late last night battling the fire, which ran through parts of Theescombe and Chelsea and also threatened homes in Kamma Heights and elsewhere.
Metro spokesperson Kupido Baron says the fire department is currently attending to a large and threatening veld fire on the Sunridge Park side of Circular Drive.
Baron says the public is asked to contact the Metro's emergency services line on 041 585 1555 to report any bush fires
