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GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Southern Cape is reeling after more than a week of runaway wildfires razed more than 86 000 hectares by Sunday afternoon, 4 November.
Nine people have died and thousands have been displaced since the veld fires started.
The scar left by these fires is four times the size of the 2017 Knysna/Bitou fires (22 000 hectares).
On Sunday afternoon Western Cape Premier Helen Zille arrived at the George airport to assess the situation.
At first it seemed as if Mossel Bay would escape the wildfires. However, in two opposite areas of Mossel Bay - Herbertsdale and Jonkersberg - there was desperation and suspense for much of the past weekend.
Herbertsdale
A runaway fire which was a controlled burn was reported at 16:20 on Thursday afternoon at the Gondwana Game Reserve.
Assistance with fighting the vegetation was requested and the Mossel Bay Municipality Fire and Disaster Management firefighters responded. In addition, Mossel Bay Helicopters responded to a request to curtail and extinguish the fire that was also raging in an inaccessible kloof.
Firefighting crew, with the assistance of Kobus Crous of Mossel Bay Helicopters, battled the active fire lines, especially on the western flank. On Sunday firefighters were still actively battling these blazes. Mopping up operations are under way in other parts of the area. No infrastructure was in danger.
At about lunchtime on Sunday a new fire was reported at Suurvlakte in a kloof between Gondwana and Herbertsdale. Mossel Bay Fire and Disaster Management firefighters responded with personnel and a tanker.
Photo: Mossel Bay Helicopters
Jonkersberg
At Jonkersberg, a short distance away from the Outeniqua fire that swept through more than 86 hectares since it started last week, the community was evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Mossel Bay Municipality firefighting crews and equipment were called to assist with the protection of infrastructure and to contain the fire. By late Saturday the evacuees were allowed to return to their homes.
Early on Sunday morning, a trickle of the local population had returned to their homes while firefighters continued to battle the blaze elsewhere on the mountain. An SANDF Oryx and a Working on Fire Huey helicopter dropped water on the western flank. Cooler weather conditions made firefighting operations somewhat easier while mopping up operations continued at other flanks. No infrastructure was in danger.
By late Sunday evening it was feared that the northern flank of the Jonkersberg wildfire may move into old veld which could pose serious threats as old veld burn with higher flames and more intensity than usual. The Jonkersberg eastern flank at the time was less than two kilometres from the Outeniqua wildfire.
Mossel Bay Fire and Disaster Management Services deployed firefighters to a runaway fire at Gondwana in the Herbertsdale area. The team soon had the fire contained with the help of Mossel Bay Helicopters.
Further afield
On Sunday afternoon, apart from the Jonkersberg, the critical areas were Noll, Kransbos, Diepwalle and Seven Passes. As a precautionary measure, communities at Kransbos (about 60 people to the Wittedrift Community hall) and Diepwalle (about 25 people to the Hornlee Community hall) were evacuated.
Read a related article: Zille kom kyk self na brande
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