Cape fires keep teams under pressure
10 February 2010, 00:23
Fires continued to burn in the Southern Cape and Franschhoek on Tuesday, despite extra help from KwaZulu-Natal and Free State firefighters, authorities said.
"The fire at Haarlem, near Uniondale, is burning into the Tsitsikamma Mountains, but there are concerns it will reach Keurbooms (inland from Nature's Valley) overnight," Southern Cape fire chief Annelize Lamprecht said in a statement.
Earlier 179 firefighters from the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal were brought in to relieve teams on the fireline.
The fire near Plettenberg Bay was brought under control, while the one in Knysna was approaching farms.
"Air resources, including SANDF Oryx helicopters and Working on Fire Huey Helicopters are in the Southern Cape fighting the fires using Bambi-buckets."
The hot weather in the area was making it difficult to control the fire.
Six Working on Fire teams from Tulbagh and Stellenbosch were helping CapeNature, the Cape Winelands District Municipality and several private contractors in the firefighting effort. On Monday a sawmill, cellar and other structures were lost as the flames swept down the mountains, fanned by a strong wind.
A disaster centre, to oversee the firefighting, had been established in George. All emergency services including ambulances and police were on alert. - Sapa
"The fire at Haarlem, near Uniondale, is burning into the Tsitsikamma Mountains, but there are concerns it will reach Keurbooms (inland from Nature's Valley) overnight," Southern Cape fire chief Annelize Lamprecht said in a statement.
Earlier 179 firefighters from the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal were brought in to relieve teams on the fireline.
The fire near Plettenberg Bay was brought under control, while the one in Knysna was approaching farms.
"Air resources, including SANDF Oryx helicopters and Working on Fire Huey Helicopters are in the Southern Cape fighting the fires using Bambi-buckets."
The hot weather in the area was making it difficult to control the fire.
Six Working on Fire teams from Tulbagh and Stellenbosch were helping CapeNature, the Cape Winelands District Municipality and several private contractors in the firefighting effort. On Monday a sawmill, cellar and other structures were lost as the flames swept down the mountains, fanned by a strong wind.
A disaster centre, to oversee the firefighting, had been established in George. All emergency services including ambulances and police were on alert. - Sapa
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