Garden Route fires update

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - SAASVELD
The fire is a concern for the JOC at the moment. A crew has been deployed to the NMU Saasveld area.

WITFONTEIN / DENNEOORD
A few flare-ups and hotspots have occurred - teams are struggling to contain them. A bomber will try to clear the area.

These are no new fires; only flare-ups. Crew members are attending to three hotspots to contain the wildfire.

The ACSA Firefighting team and 14 Concordia WoF firefighters are currently protecting the Water Works.

Please note that all official and unofficial hiking trails on the Outeniqua mountain remain closed due to the current fires in the area. Trails will remain closed until further notice.

KARATARA
Wildfire mostly under control and quiet. Teams worked on two ends so that it would not end up at the Homtini River. The line to the Homtini River has been secured. One started at Kraaibosch and the other at the power lines.

About an hour ago two teams who worked towards one another, met each other where the two fire lines met.

There are three teams at the scene - a chopper is currently bombing the fireline. Heavy smoke is moving towards the area from a plantation.

DE VLUGT / DUBELL / SAWMILL
Two choppers on scene, one chopper was requested to return due to technical fault.

Landowners confirmed that at Dubell at the Sawmill, there is plenty of smoke coming from the valley - landowners cannot see the fire due to the smoke. There are sufficient firefighting resources on the scene. The sawmill is still safe and being protected. South-westerly wind is still blowing.

Aerial resources cannot assist Dubell with the smoke in the area, as the flames are very high.

GRDM Fire Services received a safety call from Geelhoutvlei Timbers about arsenic in some of the treated timber logs – this is a cause of concern for the health of ground teams and possibly others around the area. GRDM is in contact with the Health Department to evaluate the vapours that might blow in the direction of residential areas. The fire is contained. Some homes are situated more to the north of the area on the way to Karatara. The smoke moving towards the houses is not a big concern, but the issue is in the vicinity of the smoking logs. The GRDM Air Quality Management Unit has been informed of the possible health threat and will accordingly attend to the situation.

DE VLUGT - KLEIN BAVARIA
A lot of smoke on the northern line of the valley, but it is not a big concern because it is within the fire break. Biggest concern is that fire is burning along the R340 Road (Wittedrift Road). Firefighting resources are focused on containing the wildfire in the area. - Bitou FMU 3 Buffels in assistance.

Issued by Garden Route DM JOC
Emergency Call Centre – 044-805 5071

This photo was just taken from the Garden Route Botanical Garden in George by Lizette da Silva.