Lobatse tormented by bizarre fires

Mysterious fires are engulfing the meat town of Lobatse.

Grass along the main road leading into town has burnt to ashes. Only a trail of charred remains is left behind. Trees have also burnt and fallen over.

Electric poles have also burned. A dark burnt colour on them suggests that the flames threatened to reach the power cables. But strangely, the community is not bothered much. They believe the fires will go away because ‘they are normal.’ Even Lobatse Mayor Jomo Dithebe knows that residents of

Lobatse do not necessarily panic when they see the mysterious fires.

“They happen mostly during the dry season, we are not really sure what causes the fire, we cannot say it is the work of people or not,” he said, adding that throughout the years they have managed to put out the fires by ensuring that homesteads and farms are not affected. He does not recall any incident when people’s lives were threatened. However, one fire incident that happened recently in Boswelatlou ward was hectic as it threatened to burn down houses.

They had to do everything in their power to save the day. Woodhall Police station commander, Daniel Katse said the fires are concerning and urged the public to always be vigilant. He explained that they are aware that some people continue with their daily lives without worry even when fires are burning just near their homesteads. He suggested that the best that can be done is to ensure there is no dry grass near people’s homes to ensure that the fires do not reach their homesteads. He added that they always see the Lobatse Hill burn and act only after assessing the intensity of the fire.