George area plagued by several flare-ups
George fire and rescue services were inundated with calls for assistance after at least five flare-ups were reported yesterday.
Municipal spokesperson Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe said fires had broken out in Ring Road, behind Groenkloof, in Zone 1, near the George Dam as well as in New Dawn Park, Saasveld Road and John Street.
Another fire along the Robinson Pass had been contained.
By yesterday evening, Mangqwengqwe said the situation had calmed down, with emergency service members fighting two big fires.
“These are the Hansmoeskraal fire and a second fire which includes Saasveld Road, Kraaibosch Manor and Groenkloof Road [area].”
He said firefighters were on site and a 30,000-litre tanker and a Unimog were being used to douse the flames.
“Crews are actively fighting the fires [in Saasveld] with three fire engines on site and aerial support activated this afternoon.”
Mangqwengqwe said another residential fire at John Street in Denneoord had also been doused.
“The John Street incident is a random fire incident and it was not linked to any of the big fires.”
Meanwhile, Garden Route district municipality spokesperson Herman Peters said municipal firefighters had been called to assist Mossel Bay firefighters late on Tuesday night along the Robinson Pass, a stretch of road that connects Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn.
Peters said no injuries had been reported.
The fires comes after the SA Weather Service (SAWS) issued a severe weather warning for possible veld fires in the Western Cape.
The areas included Beaufort West, Bergrivier, Cederberg, George, Hantam, Hessequa, Kamiesberg, Kannaland, Karoo Hoogland, Khâi-Ma, Laingsburg, Langeberg, Matzikama, Oudtshoorn, Prince Albert and Swellendam.