Farmer, 21, dies after raging veld fire
Farmer, 21, dies after raging veld fire
11 October 2010
published by www.news24.com
South Africa — A young Free State farmer died on Monday after he was badly burnt while trying to extinguish veld fires at his parents’ farm in Kaallaagte, near Bethlehem.
Free State health spokesperson Jabu Mbalula confirmed that Jaco Nortje, 21, died in Bloemfontein early on Monday morning.
Nortje suffered burn wounds to 90% of his body.
Mbalula said a farm worker, Koos Tamane, from Nortje’s farm, was also admitted to the burns unit with 70% burn wounds.
“He is in a critical condition.”
Spokesperson for the Bloemfontein Medi-Clinic Amanda Appelgryn said another Free State farmer, Koos du Toit from Soutpan, was in a stable condition after he was burnt while fighting veld fires near Brandfort.
Du Toit suffered between 25 to 35% burn wounds on Friday while helping to put out a fire.
Grazing
The chairperson of the Bethlehem Fire Protection Association, Charl Genis, said most of the fires burning over the weekend were under control. He estimated that 15 000 hectares had been destroyed.
A new fire that started between Bethlehem and Slabbert on Sunday night was still burning.
Free State Forestry spokesperson Malcolm Proctor said 442 241ha of grazing were destroyed in veld fires so far this year.
He said in October this year more than 180 000ha were burnt while 192 000ha of grazing were destroyed last month.
“This is the most damage since I’ve started collecting data.”
Various fires, which started last week, were also still raging in the Brandfort area.
