Latest update on Garden Route fires

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Latest update from the Garden Route District Municipality on the ongoing fires in the Garden Route news.

EVACUATIONS
As a precautionary measure, evacuations of communities at Kransbos (+-60 people to Wittedrift Community hall) and Diepwalle (+-25 people to Hornlee Community hall) have taken place.

CURRENT SITUATION
MOSSEL BAY/HERBERTSDALE WILDFIRE - Active fire lines, especially on the western flank. Firefighters are actively battling these blazes. Mopping-up operations are underway in other parts of the area. No infrastructure is in danger.

JONKERSBERG WILDFIRE - SANDF Oryx and a WoF Huey dropped water on the western flank. Cooler weather conditions are making firefighting operations easier at the moment. Mopping-up operations continue at other flanks. No infrastructure in danger.

OUTENIQUA/DE VLUGT WILDFIRE - Over 86 000 hectares have burned. The current scar is 4 times the size of the 2017 Knysna/Bitou fires (22 000 HA). Currently crews are attending to high-priority flare-ups at all divisions through suppression actions, with a focus on critical areas being Jonkersberg, Noll, Kransbos, Diepwalle and Seven Passes.

Mopping-up operations will be taking place throughout the day.

George firefighting crews did an excellent job at safeguarding the Highlands Lodge from danger - crews are still in the area to ensure that people and infrastructure are safeguarded

OTHER AREAS WHERE THE WILDFIRE IS NOT POSING ANY DANGER AT THIS STAGE

- KARATARA
- GEORGE URBAN EDGE
- HOEKWIL
- RUIGTEVLEI
- HEROLD
- CAMPHERSKLOOF
- EZELJACHT
- GANSKRAAL

Crews are monitoring these areas and attending to flare-ups.