Saved by removal of the ‘ticking time bomb’
Contrary to what one reads in the national press, Green Pastures suburb was not burnt to a crisp in the Knysna fires. While residents of both the estate and village evacuated on June 7, they returned the next morning to see that every single home was still standing. One much-loved car was destroyed, there were many cases of smoke damage, several wooden decks and garden fences went up in flames, but only one home suffered serious damage. The owners, the Swart family, with their usual determination are already working to make it a beautiful home once more.
Why did Green Pastures come off comparatively lightly? Apparently it was a combination of a good deal of luck and handwork to rid the estate of alien tree species.
When Clinton Manuel, the then fairly recently appointed fire chief of Knysna, visited Green Pastures in October 2015, he described the black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) infestation in and around the community as “a ticking time-bomb”. The Knysna protection services division took the matter very seriously, as did the Green Pastures Home Owners’ Association committee. And so began a long war against these and other invader species of plants and trees. “The measure was costly and not always popular, but we received wonderful support from the fire chief and his team, who helped persuade owners to do the right thing,” says the committee chairperson Ray Gerber. The entire estate was cleared of the last black wattle, gumtrees, etc. just a few months ago.
The other factor that made a huge difference, was the wonderful spirit among residents. Hilton Teague and Elsa de Wet set up and organised a 24-hour watch, manned by residents of both the estate and village, to keep an eye out for further outbreaks of fire and making sure that no looters or “disaster tourists” came snooping around the suburb.
The atmosphere was amazing as new friendships were made on the control post.
On Sunday, June 25 the community organised a thanksgiving lunch to meet up with friends new and old, to think about those less fortunate and be grateful for their shared good fortune.
“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to so many,” says Gerber. “For such a small town, our municipality, under the leadership of our mayor, Eleanore Bouw-Spies, and all the officials have done an amazing job; the full-time and volunteer firefighters who were only a call away; Allsound’s brave security men and women; not to overlook the electricity and water departments and Telkom who got us on our feet so quickly. Thank you, you are all heroes!”