Out of control veld fire fought by farm workers
Chris Hani fire brigade unable to assist while battling Cala blaze
Dicla Farm workers struggled to put out a blazing fire that spiralled out of control and was fuelled by gusting winds on Sunday evening.
Using buckets of water, hose pipes and wet sacks, the farm workers finally succeeded in putting out the fire because the Chris Hani fire brigade was out attending to another fire in Cala.
Dicla Training and Projects CFO Lungi Mandlendoda said she was informed by farm workers that the fire had started at about 2pm.
At that time I was away “from the farm. I only arrived late, when it was out of control due to the wind.
I do not know if someone “started the fire on purpose or if it was triggered by a cigarette butt someone threw down.
I was worried about the cars “passing on the road as the fire spread towards the main road, ”Mandlendoda said.
I was also worried that it “would spread across our second farm and burn our Renaissance bed and breakfast.”
Mandlendoda said it was important during the current windy season that people took extra care before throwing away matches or cigarettes.
About two weeks ago, they were called to assist in putting out another fire at a nearby farm, she added. I do not know why fires are “becoming quite common now.
Veld fires are usually “common when people are anticipating rainfall, which is usually near the end of winter. We were fortunate because “in our projects we teach staff members about fire containment.
This is how we managed to “put out the fire and avoid further damage.” Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) acting spokesperson Bulelwa Ganyaza said disaster management was notified about the fire at the farm as veld fires fell under the responsibility of the district municipality.
However, at the time they could not send fire engines to the farm.
Ganyaza said: Our “firefighters were already dispatched to Cala to another fire incident at the time. We could not provide “assistance as the two incidents were reported an hour apart, with the first just after 5pm on Sunday. To combat fires in our area, the assistance of residents is of vital importance.”