Forest Fires in South Africa
Forest Fires in South Africa
12 July 2002
Unusually dry and windy weather conditions caused several large forest fires in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.
Latest Satelite Image
Image showing heat signatures and smoke plumes in South Africa,
11 July 2002
Wildfires hit 3 Provinces in South Africa: 9-12 July 2002
This area was hit by serious wildfires much earlier than normal, because of dry and very windy conditions because of the El Nino phenomena and sudden weather changes, which caught prescribed burns to run out of control. The following is a summary of the situation as during 12/7/2002
Zeerust (Northwest Province)
A fire started 9 July when young boys attempted to smoke out bees on a farm. The uncontrolled fire swept through 10 farms and 12000 ha of grazing land, killing livestock and destroying vehicles near Ottoshoop. 8 People were injured by the fire, 3 of which are in a critical condition.
Mpumalanga Province: 10-12 July 2002
Sabie Area: 1000 ha of industrial plantations were lost in a fire, together with lost of grassland in the area.
Piet Retief and Southern Highveld area
1200 ha of Eucalyptus plantation was destroyed, as well as 7000 ha of maize.
Nelspruit
Fires threatened houses in a neighbourhood. Emergency fire breaks had to be burned to save them.
Morgenzon
20 people received minor injuries and more than 600 sheep burned to death. More than 20 farmworkers houses were destroyed in a grassland fire.
Breyton
Some farmhouses were destroyed in a grassland fire, and 10 ha of maize was lost.
Bethal
A farmer was seriously injured in a grassland fire
Dirkiesdorp (near Ermelo)
An 11-year old girl died inside a hut, and 3 were seriously injured suffering serious burns, when a fire burned through a village.
Limpopo (Northern Province)
On the N17 between Kinross and Trichardt
2 People were seriously injured when their cars collided in thick smoke frm a grassland fire.
Uncontrolled fires were also reported from Ermelo, Chrissiesmeer, Charl Cillier, Greylingsstad and the Lothair districts.
By Fridaymorning 12/7 the total death toll as a result of the fires now stands at 5.
by Neels de Ronde
Situation Report for Mpumalanga Province
The following Fire Protection Associations reported
LEFPA [NELSPRUIT]
Sappi Ngodwana x1
Sappi Houtboshoekx1
Safcol Berlinx1
Sabie Area x3 With one which burned + – 500 ha of timber land.
The Airforce assisted in the fire.
Barberton Farming area x 7 Grass Fires
Warburton FPA
They reported 7 Fires which where all Extinguished.
Piet Retief FPA
They had a total of 12 Fires in the forestry areas.
Ermelo FPA
They had a total of 5 Large fires which destroyed Grazing and Maize Lands.
Standerton FPA
This area had 2 Large Fires which destroyed 10 structures,grazing ,Maize land.Two fire fighters receive serious burns and are in hospital.Large numbers of live stock where injured and died in the Fire.
Secunda FPA
They reported x2 Fires which where brought under control.
Midelburg FPA
2X large fire in grazing and maize lands.
Witbank FPA
1X Fire
SOURCE: Chris Austin, FPA chairman
Visual Impressions
Pictures taken by GFMC operator, flying on board a spotter aircraft of FFA.
For more information on fires in South Africa:
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See contributions in International Forest Fire News (IFFN): South Africa
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See Media Highlights on South Africa.
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See also the South Africa Photo Archive.
