Windfall for local businesses

Between them, some 1.2 million litres of water had been deposited on the mounds, this in addition to the many more litres used by ground level fire tender crews and other firefighters.

Two burning stockpiles, including the mound where the blaze originated, are all but extinguished and on Friday, earthmoving equipment was lifting loads of embers and cinders and spreading them on flat ground.

TWK MD John Swaine concurred with Knoesen that the people of Richards Bay had given fantastic backing in every respect.

“We need to get back into production as soon as possible as the economic effect would be felt not just in Richards Bay but also further up in the forestry areas where there is a million tonnes of product that can’t be shipped out and produced at least for the next couple of months until NCT is back up and running,” said Swaine.

And while there is not much that can be done about the smoke that has permeated much of the city, the Air Quality Prediction Alert ‘early warning system’ linking wind direction and speed to suburbs at risk has proved invaluable, allowing those with respiratory problems to take precautions.

Canal pollution concern

Meanwhile, all eyes are on Mzingazi Canal, where the water has turned pitch black from the Arboretum robots all the way to Pelican Island, owing to fallout from the ash- and ember-filled smoke, and possibly also from stormwater run-off.

Tests are being run at the canal as well as at Thulasihleka Pan but it seems unlikely that the carbon fallout pollution contains toxic matter.

Fish could still be seen jumping in the canal and by Saturday no dead fish had been encountered, according to Zululand Yacht Club commodore Kirsten Schreuder.

He added that the residue lines left on boats were easily removed.

However, environmentalists do have concerns, including the lack of light penetration to bottomdwelling species, and the inability of birds to see their prey in the water.

There is also worry about the gills of fish being clogged should there be solid particles in the water, as well as possible impact on oxygen levels.

Continued from page 1 Structural damage aplenty at the worst-hit area on the conveyor system that transports woodchips to the vessels at the quayside

Dave Savides NCT GM Danny Knoesen points out a loader and workshop which were totally gutted in the blaze

Black canal water at the Zululand Yacht Club on Saturday morning