Update: Garden Route Wildfires

Update

GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Lightning strikes have caused several additional wildfires across the northern parts of the district.

Ignitions occurred in Haarlem, Nuwe Kloof near Kruisrivier, Calitzdorp, in the Rooiberg Mountains, as well as Haarlem.

All the above fires are high up on mountain ridges and inaccessible.

An update on the ongoing fires is as follows:

Swartberg Pass (Cape Nature property)

The Swartberg Pass wildfire has earlier been impacted by strong north-westerly winds. The eastern line is burning towards the pass, and the westerly line is approaching the fence of the game farm. Sporadic drizzle has, however, cooled down the fire lines in the last hour. The crews hope that it does cool down more. Crews are on high alert at both of these points. No infrastructure is under immediate threat.

Molenrivier, Louvain
The wildfire has spread out of the inaccessible areas much quicker with swift wind changes and spread north towards farms.
The GRDM crew and farmers with tractor water units are currently extinguishing the head of this fire on the northwest side. On the eastern flank, the fire has spread closer to farms however burning slowly against the wind. This area is monitored by the landowner and will be prioritised in the next operational period.

Roleplayers are divided amongst all the indicated fires and include Garden Route District Municipality's Fire Services, Oudtshoorn Municipality's Fire & Rescue Services, Cape Nature, San Parks, the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association, Working on Fire and relevant landowners.

Sporadic drizzle has, however, cooled down the fire lines in the last hour. The crews hope that it does cool down more. Crews are on high alert at both of these points.

No infrastructure has been lost in any of the fires.