Local firefighters’ large contribution
“Mossel Bay Municipality extends condolences to the community of Karatara and the loved ones of the eight people of one family who died in the recent devastating fires that swept through the Garden Route. Likewise, the family and friends of Nico Heyns, the Working on Fire pilot who lost his life while protecting others, are uppermost in our minds,” Alderman Harry Levendal, the executive mayor of Mossel Bay said. The more than 14 fires since 24 October destroyed more than 91 000 hectares of vegetation, as well as housing, heritage structures and wildlife. These fires spread rapidly due to extremely dry weather conditions, strong winds and lightning. Various communities had to be evacuated and were housed in community halls, schools, churches and clinics. Main roads were also closed due to poor visibility.
Mossel Bay
Mossel Bay Fire and Disaster Management Services played a vital role in the firefighting operation in the Garden Route fires and assisted with evacuations, protecting human life, properties and animals.
The Mossel Bay crew assisted as follows:
• On 23 and 24 October, Mossel Bay fire crews assisted at the Vermaaklikheid fire towards Puntjie and Still Bay by bringing fire lines under control.
• On 28 October Mossel Bay was notified by the Garden Route District Municipality and requested assistance with an active fire in the Outeniqua Mountains. Mossel Bay assisted with a tanker and one Skid Unit in Denneoord, George.
• On 29 October Mossel Bay assisted in the Blanco area in George after a fire jumped the Outeniqua Pass. Mossel Bay despatched a major pumper and tanker to the area and was joined by Joseph Johnston, the senior manager: Fire and Disaster Management Services of Mossel Bay Municipality. Crews worked from Blanco into the area of Knysna, Beervlei.
• On 1 November Mossel Bay assisted the Garden Route District Municipal Fire Services by attending to the fire flare-up at Gondwana Game Farm in the Mossel Bay area and to bring the firelines under control.
• Gondwana Game Farm reported another flare-up on 2 November and requested assistance with the fire. The Garden Route District Municipal Fire Services could not respond and crews from Mossel Bay assisted Gondwana to bring the firelines under control again.
• On 3 November assistance was given to MTO Forestry at Jonkersberg Plantation, where houses were in danger and the community of the Bosdorp was under threat. Community members were evacuated to Sinksabrug due to dense smoke conditions. The Mossel Bay crew assisted within the Bosdorp area by extinguishing the fireline that was threatening houses.
• Crews from the Great Brak River Fire Station also responded to a fire on a farm in Riverside when Garden Route Municipal Fire Services confirmed it had no resources available to tend to the fire. The fire was brought under control.
• Mossel Bay crews responded to a call for assistance in Herbertsdale after the Gondwana fire became out of control, fanned by strong winds. Structures were protected and the fire brought under control.
• On 4 November Mossel Bay crews responded to Suurvlakte to assist with a fire in a ravine on a farm and brought it under control after Garden Route District Municipality Fire Services confirmed they could not respond to the fire due to resources being deployed elsewhere.
These fire responses occurred amid other fire and rescue calls within the Mossel Bay municipal area, to which the Mossel Bay Municipality Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management Services had to attend. On Monday, 5 November Alderman Harry Levendal accompanied the Western Cape premier Helen Zille, and executive mayors from various neighbouring towns also affected by the devastating fires, on a site visit to, among others, the town of Karatara, where the several people died.
The fires have since mostly been extinguished through excellent fire fighting activities by all involved, as well as the rainfall over the past few days. The areas are still being monitored for possible flare-ups. This past weekend at Jonkersberg the fire breaks that were created with bulldozers helped to contain the fire above the top contour line and thick mist cooled the line down during the night.
There is currently no need for donations for the affected communities in the Mossel Bay Municipal area and specifically Jonkersberg, as everyone that was evacuated as a precautionary measure, has since returned. Mossel Bay Municipality would like to thank all the rire and rescue crews from the various municipalities, all the volunteers and other roleplayers who assisted with the recent firefighting operations in the Garden Route district.