New fears as strong winds expected on Garden Route

PREEMPTIVE fire-fighting efforts started yesterday as the South African Weather Service warned that strong winds are expected to hit the Garden Route again today, raising fears of a fresh threat.

In anticipation of the strong winds, expected to exceed 80km/h, firefighters dampened a number of areas between Nelson Mandela Bay and Knysna that were identified for potential flare-ups.

Port Elizabeth weather office spokesman Garth Sampson said the wind was expected to pick up at about 4am, increasing the danger of fires flaring up along the coast and adjacent interior.

“Wind speeds of up to 25 knots [46km/h] can be expected, with gusts reaching up to 45 knots [83km/h] – definitely not ideal conditions for the fire-fighting effort,” he said.

“We expect the wind to continue like this until midnight, hopefully dying down by tomorrow.”

Yesterday morning, firefighters were out in force for dampening operations in the Rocklands and Van Stadens areas, while those in and around Knysna were also working to extinguish some fires and dampen potential flare-up areas.

While weather forecasts have indicated a slight chance of rain over the next few days, Sampson said people should not get their hopes up.

“We are not expecting any significant rainfall,” he said.

Working on Fire (WoF) deployed more than 800 firefighters in the Knysna and other Garden Route areas and the South African National Defence Force deployed soldiers to assist.

In Nelson Mandela Bay, municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said most of the fires in the metro had been extinguished, but difficult-to-reach areas remained a threat.

He said the South African Air Force had sent a helicopter to monitor the fires and gather information for strategic planning purposes.

Thornhill businessman and farmer Jonathan Fowke said their teams had been working nonstop to extinguish the fires since last week.

“We are all on high alert as we are not in the clear yet,” he said.

“We are all still very concerned about the expected wind and are working with other farmers and residents to get teams together.”

Kouga mayor Elza van Lingen said about 100 firefighters were busy with mop-up operations between Loerie and Thornhill by yesterday afternoon.

“We ask the public not to panic should there be flare-ups,” she said.

“The situation is being monitored and managed carefully.

“If it becomes necessary to issue an evacuation alert, this will be done officially by the municipality. We ask people not to spread false rumours.”

Van Lingen said the fire in the Longmore area was still smouldering.

“Motorists [should] reduce speed when travelling past the Van Stadens and Thornhill areas,” she said.

“There are a lot of animals, both livestock and wildlife, wandering into the roads because of the fences having burnt down.”