Fires in South Africa
Fires in South Africa
9 February 2010
Fires in the Southern Cape of South Africa continue to burn with increasing intesities.
The following MODIS scenes were taken on 9 February 2010: click on scenes for a 250m resolution. For fire situation update see below.
(afternoon scene)
Fire update
Tuesday, 4pm
Second Knysna mountain fire approaching farms while Haarlem blaze moves towards Keurbooms
A fire that has been burning in the mountains above Knysna for several days is moving towards farmlands on the edge of the Southern Cape town creating a second fire front for wildland fire fighters.
Fire fighters, who have been trying to control massive flames near Phantom Pass, now also have to watch approaching flames near Homtini.Southern Cape fire chief Annelize Lamprecht said the Eden District Municipality was being assisted by CapeNature, SANParks, MTO Forestry, the Knysna Fire Department, the SANDF and Working on Fire. A Disaster Centre to co-ordinate the fire fight has been set up in George.
Earlier in the day six Working on Fire teams (179 fire fighters) from the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal arrived in the area to relieve the teams on the fire line. The main Knysna fire is still not under control.
The fire burning near Plettenberg Bay is under control.
The fire at Haarlem, near Uniondale, is burning into the Tsitsikamma Mountains but there are concerns it will reach Keurbooms (inland from Natures Valley) overnight.
Air resources, including SANDF Oryx helicopters and WoF Huey Helicopters are in the Southern Cape fighting the fires using Bambi-buckets.
Lamprecht said the terrible heat and wind were adding to the crisis.
Its up to 44C which makes it extremely difficult to get these fires under control.
In Franschhoek Incident Commander Wendy Towe from Cape Nature flew over the fire this afternoon in a WoF spotter plane. The blaze destroyed several buildings yesterday.
Indications are the suppression of the blaze is starting to achieve results. One side of the fire is still giving problems. Six Working on Fire teams from Tulbagh and Stellenbosch are assisting CapeNature, the Cape Winelands District Municipality and several private contractors in the fire fighting effort.
Fire UpdateTuesday, February 9, 1pm
Southern Cape burns as temperatures hit 44C at midday
Fire fighters in the Southern Cape are still battling to contain the out of control fire near Knysna with 58 fresh Working on Fire wildfire fighters from KwaZulu-Natal joining the effort at lunch time today.
Southern Cape Fire Chief Annelize Lamprecht said the terrible heat and wind were adding to the crisis.
Its up to 44C which makes it extremely difficult to get these fires under control.
A second fire is being monitored in the mountains nearby the town.
A strong westerly wind is hampering efforts to contain the blaze that is threatening commercial pine plantations.
The SANDF has sent three Oryx helicopters to assist with water bombing the blaze. WoF also has Huey helicopters working on the fire.
The effort to control the blaze is being overseen by the Eden District Municipality from a Disaster Management Centre in George.
All emergency personnel in the Southern Cape are on standby to assist with the fire fighting effort.
In Plettenberg Bay fire fighters have contained the wild fire which is still burning on its south western flank. A WoF Huey helicopter is continuing to drop water on the blaze.
In Haarlem, near Uniondale, the fire had bypassed the town at noon. WoFs Senekal team has relieved exhausted fire fighters and are continuing with the effort to douse the blaze.In Franschhoek Incident Commander Wendy Towe from CapeNature is in the air this afternoon in a WoF spotter plane assessing the extent of the fire. Indications are the suppression of the blaze that has destroyed a sawmill, a cellar and several other buildings, is starting to achieve results. One side of the fire is still giving problems. Five Working on Fire teams from Tulbagh and Stellenbosch are assisting CapeNature, the Cape Winelands District Municipality and several private contractors in the fire fighting effort.
Fire update
Tuesday, February 9, 9am
Southern Cape burns as temperatures tip over 40C today
Working on Fire teams from KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State joined the fight to control the wild fires devastating the Southern Cape and Franschhoek today.
Gerhard Otto, Head of Disaster Management in the Southern Cape, said 179 fresh wildland fire fighters had arrived to relieve exhausted teams that have been battling blazes for nearly a week.
In Knysna commercial pine plantations remain threatened. Fire fighters are being supported by a WoF Huey helicopter and three South African National Defence Force Oryx helicopters. A second WoF Huey Helicopter has arrived from the Free State, while a third Huey helicopter is also on the way to the Southern Cape. All helicopters are fitted with Bambi-buckets to dump water on different sides of the blaze. A spotter plane is directing the fire fight.
At this stage its old Bluegum trees and fynbos that is burning, its a very dirty fire, said Otto.
Partners in the fire fight include CapeNature, MTO Forestry, SANParks, Eden District Municipality, the Defence Force and Working on Fire.
In Plettenberg Bay the west and east sides of an out-of-control fire were contained overnight. The south west side of the fire is still uncontrolled but the wind has turned in favour of the fire fighters.
One WoF Huey is supporting the fire fight.
In Haarlem near Uniondale shacks and an RDP settlement remain threatened by a five-day old blaze but the fresh WoF Senekal team will be on the fireline today. A WoF Huey is also assisting.
In Franschhoek six WoF teams are assisting the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board. Yesterday 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 fire fighting, has been established in George. All emergency services including ambulances and police are on alert.
Issued by HWB Communications Pty Ltd.
On Behalf of Working on Fire
For more information please contact:
Evelyn Holtzhausen
HWB Communications
082 658 6007
Further information
