Gauteng, FS fires under control
Gauteng, FS fires under control
24 August 2011
published by www.news24.com
South Africa — Several fires that swept across parts of Gauteng and the northern Free State appeared to be under control on Tuesday night, ER24 said.
Emergency officials said no new fires had been reported on Wednesday morning.
At least five people were hurt, with two suffering severe burns.
Isolated veld fires started early in the morning, but became more erratic as the fires were fuelled by winds of up to 60km/h, ER24 paramedics in Potchefstroom said.
By 16:00, 12 veld fires were reported, some as far as 80km wide, said ER24s Andre Visser.
Paramedics attended to multiple motor vehicle collisions in the area as thick smoke created adverse driving conditions.
One particular incident [saw] 3 bakkies and a truck collide in Fochville at 10:00. Fortunately all the occupants involved in the collision had sustained minor injuries only, said Visser.
He said that paramedics were called out to assist firefighting teams as they tried to save farm buildings and cattle.
Two men also sustained severe burns, one to 70% of his body, when their bakkie was engulfed in the fire.
Both men are being treated at Millpark hospital.
